Recording and playback apparatus

ABSTRACT

A recording and playback apparatus can continue the playback of a content with playback time limit, even after the playback time limit expires during the playback of the content, and does not play back the content even though an instruction receiver receives a playback instruction when the playback of the content is stopped after the playback time limit of the content expires during the playback of the content with the playback time limit. The recording and playback apparatus outputs the warning information, when the instruction receiver receives the stop instruction after the playback time limit of the content expires during the playback of the content.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a recording and playback apparatuswhich can reproduce a downloaded content.

2. Related Art

In recent years, for a content distribution method, a contentdistribution method which uses distribution of a content by using acommunication network such as the Internet has been widely used inaddition to a content distribution method using a broadcast wave. Forexample, JP-A-10-13816 discloses a content distribution with avideo-on-demand (VOC) system through a communication network.

As a new content distribution method, there is proposed a contentdistribution method in which additional information such as a playbacktime limit and an age-limit are added to a content and a recording andplayback apparatus downloads the content together with the additionalinformation. According to the distribution method, for example, wheninformation related to the playback time limit is added to the content,the content is erased based on the playback time limit added to thecontent.

However, in the above distribution method, a user cannot easilyrecognize the additional information of the content recorded in therecording and playback apparatus, and thus the above distribution methodis inconvenient for the user.

SUMMARY

In order to solve the above problem, a recording and playback apparatusis provided that can improve the convenience for a user with respect tomanagement of a content with additional information.

In one aspect, a recording and playback apparatus capable of recordingand playing back a content downloaded from a server is provided. Therecording and playback apparatus includes: a recording medium capable ofstoring a content with a playback time limit; an instruction receiverconfigured to receive a playback instruction to start playback of thecontent or a stop instruction to stop the playback of the content; aplayback unit configured to play back the content recorded in therecording medium in accordance with the instruction received by theinstruction receiver; and a warning output unit configured to outputwarning information related to the playback time limit of the contentwith the playback time limit recorded in the recording medium.

The playback unit continues the playback of the content, even after theplayback time limit expires during the playback of the content with theplayback time limit, and, when the playback of the content is stoppedafter the playback time limit of the content expires during the playbackof the content, does not play back the content if the instructionreceiver receives the playback instruction. The warning output unitoutputs the warning information, when the instruction receiver receivesthe stop instruction after the playback time limit of the contentexpires during the playback of the content with the playback time limit.

According to the recording and playback apparatus of the above aspect,convenience can be improved for management of contents with additionalinformation. For example, when playback is continued after a playbacktime limit expires during playback of the content, a user is warned thatthe content will not be played back again once the user stops playbackof the content. In this manner, the user can be informed that thecontent may be unable to be played back. The user can avoidunpredictable circumstance in which the playback of the content becomesimpossible once the user erroneously stops the playback of the content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing a configuration of a contentdistribution system.

FIG. 1B is a diagram for explaining meta information and licenseinformation stored in a content server.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recorderaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of a recording list image.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of a list of a plurality ofcontents which are displayed in a bundle.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a playback operation of a content.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen and aselection screen related to a playback time limit (time limit ofviewing).

FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of a recording list on which theplayback time limit (time limit of viewing) is displayed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen related toplayable time.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a recording list while metainformation is downloaded.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen indicatingthat playback of a content is impossible.

FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an example of a recording list while acontent is being downloaded.

FIG. 9B is a diagram showing an example of a recording list while acontent is being downloaded (information of a content being downloadedis not displayed on a recording list).

FIG. 9C is a diagram showing an example of a list of contents beingdownloaded.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a list of editing items.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an operation of generating the list ofediting items.

FIG. 12A is a diagram showing an example of a recording list while acontent is being downloaded.

FIG. 12B is a diagram showing an example of a recording list showingdetails of progress of download.

FIG. 12C is a diagram showing an example of a recording list displayedafter download is completed.

FIG. 12D is a diagram showing a display example of a list of contentsdisplayed in a bundle.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing an operation of displaying a recordinglist.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a recording list image whichdisplays a content having an age limit.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a recording list image whichdoes not display the content having an age limit.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing a playback operation of an age-limitedcontent.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen for enteringa password.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing an operation of playing back a contentbeing downloaded.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen indicatingthat playback of a content is stopped on the way.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen indicatingthat it may be impossible to view an overall of content.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing an operation of determining if follow-upplayback is possible.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen indicatingthat playback of a content catches up with download of the content.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing an operation of determining if follow-upplayback is possible.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing an operation of downloading content whendownload is requested.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing an operation of forcibly restarting thedownload.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen indicatingthat a content cannot be played back.

FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing an operation of erasing a content ofwhich a playback time limit expires.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a recording list includingthe content of which viewing time limit expires.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen indicatingthat playback is impossible because the playback time limit has passed.

FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing a playback operation of a content afterthe playback time limit of the content is expired.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen indicatingthat playback of a content cannot be performed when the playback of thecontent is stopped;

FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing an operation of forcibly ending playbackof a content after expiration of the playback time limit.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen for a stopof playback of a content.

FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing an operation of warning related toplayback time limit of a content before expiration of the playback timelimit.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen indicatingthat a content may not be re-started when playback of the content isstopped in the case where the content is played back just before theplayback time limit.

FIG. 36 is a flow chart showing an operation of erasing a content in aturn-off sequence of a power supply.

FIG. 37 is a flow chart showing an operation of erasing a content in asequence of a recording list.

FIG. 38 is a flow chart showing an operation of erasing a content basedon time related to a playback time limit.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments will be described below with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

[Index] 1. Configuration

1-1 Configuration of content distribution system

1-2 Configuration of recorder

1-3 Information managed by content server

2. Operations of recording a broadcast program and playback of recordedbroadcast program

2-1 Recording of broadcast program

2-2 Playback of recorded broadcast program

3. Download of content

3-1 Type of download content

3-2 Initial setting

-   -   3-3 Basic operation of download    -   3-3-1 Selection of downloaded content by user    -   3-3-2 Download of meta information    -   3-3-3 Download of content        4. Display of recording list and playback of content

4-1 Display of recording list

4-2 Playback of downloaded content

-   -   4-2-1 Download of license information    -   4-2-2 Content playback operation after reception of license        information

4-3 Recording list and operational constraints during download

-   -   4-3-1 Recording list and operational constraints during download        of meta information    -   4-3-2 Recording list and operational constraints during download        of content

4-4 Display of recording list of age-limited content and playback ofage-limited content

-   -   4-4-1 Recording of user age information    -   4-4-2 Recording list of age-limited content    -   4-4-3 Playback of age-limited content    -   4-4-4 Cancellation of age limit by inputting password        5. Special operation during download

5-1 Follow-up playback during download

5-2 Operation in download request state of a plurality of contents

5-3 Automatic stop and forcible restart of download

-   -   5-3-1 Automatic stop of download    -   5-3-2 Forcible restart of download

5-4 Power-off of power supply during download

6. Management of time information7. Operation in erasure of content

7-1 Basic operation of content erasure

7-2 Operation performed when playback time limit passes during playbackof content

7-3 Forcible ending of reproduction of content after playback time limithas passed

7-4 Warning made before content playback time limit has passed

7-5 Erasing of content after playback time limit has passed

-   -   7-5-1 Erasing in sequence of power-off    -   7-5-2 Erasing at display of recording list    -   7-5-3 Erasing performed when playback time limit has passed        8. Copying of content

8-1 Limit of number of times of copy of content

8-2 Limit of copying period of content

9. Correspondence of terms

1. Configuration 1-1 Configuration of Content Distribution System

An outline of a content distribution system will be described below.FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing a configuration of a contentdistribution system. A digital television 100 receives and displays abroadcast program. The digital television 100 receives a video signaland an audio signal from a recorder 101 and displays the video signaland the audio signal. The digital television 100 and the recorder 101are connected to each other via a cable such as an HDMI cable. A LANsystem may be used for the connecting method.

The recorder 101 receives and records a broadcast program. The recorder101 can be loaded with a recording media (BD, DVD, SD card, or thelike). The recorder 101 receives a content from the Internet 103 or theloaded recording medium to record the content. A video signal and anaudio signal of the received broadcast program or the recorded contentare transmitted to the digital television 100.

A user can control the recorder 101 by using a remote controller 102.

The recorder 101 is connected to a content server 104 and a time server105 through the Internet 103. The content server 104 stores contents.The time server 105 transmits time information to the recorder 101 inresponse to a request from the recorder 101. The content informationmentioned here is data to be played back as a video or music. Thecontent is not limited to a movie, music, or the like, and is a conceptincluding game software, for example.

When using the content distribution system, a user selects a contentdesired to be downloaded by using the remote controller 102. In thismanner, the content stored inn the content server 104 can be downloaded.Details of a method of selecting a content and a method of viewing thecontent will be described later.

1-2 Configuration of Recorder

A configuration of the recorder 101 according to the embodiment will bedescribed below. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration ofthe recorder 101. The recorder 101 includes a tuner 201, an ADC 202, avideo encoder 203, a drive controller 204, an HDD 205, a disk 206, avideo decoder 207, a graphic controller 208, a memory 209, a videooutput unit 210, a flash memory 211, a CPU 212, a RAM 213, a bus 214, anetwork controller 215, an instruction receiver 216, an FL display unit217, a time manager 218, and a secure clock manager 219.

The tuner 201 selects one of channel signals in digital broadcastingreceived through an antenna to output a television signal.

The ADC 202 converts an analog television signal selected by the tuner201 to a digital signal.

The video encoder 203 compresses and encodes the television signalconverted to the digital signal by the ADC 202 to a signal of the MPEG-2format to generate an MPEG-2 program stream which conforms to the DVDvideo recording standard. The compression encoding format is not limitedto the MPEG-2 format, and another format such as the MPEG-4 format maybe used. Regarding the stream format, in addition to the MPEG-2 programstream format, another format such as the MPEG-2 transport stream formatmay be used.

The drive controller 204 writes the MPEG-2 program stream output fromthe video encoder 203 in the HDD 205 or the disk 206 as a content. Thedrive controller 204 reads the content recorded in the HDD 205 or thedisk 206 and outputs the read content to the video decoder 207.

The HDD 205 is a recording medium which can store contents. The HDD 205records and reads contents under the control of the drive controller204.

The disk 206 is a medium which can store contents, and is, for example,BD (Blu-ray disc) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc).

In the present embodiment, except for a copy operation, HDD 205 is usedfor a recording medium for storing contents. However, the recordingmedium for storing contents may be the disk 206 or a semiconductormemory such as a SD card. That is, it may be any medium capable ofrecording contents and a type of recording medium is not limited.

The video decoder 207 decompresses the supplied content and converts thecontent into non-compressed data to supply the non-compressed data tothe graphic controller 208.

The graphic controller 208 synthesizes various menu images with a videoimage supplied from the video decoder 207 to output the synthesizedvideo image to the video output unit 210. The images to be synthesizedare stored in the memory 209. Image data recorded in the RAM 213 isinterpreted by the CPU 212 and synthesized by the graphic controller208.

The memory 209 stores the image data synthesized by the graphiccontroller 208.

The video output unit 210 outputs the video synthesized by the graphiccontroller 208. The video output unit 210 is, for example, an HDMIterminal.

The flash memory 211 stores various parameters required to control therecorder 101.

The CPU 212 controls the tuner 201, the ADC 202, the video encoder 203,the drive controller 204, the video decoder 207, the graphic controller208, the video output unit 210, the flash memory 211, the RAM 213, thenetwork controller 215, the instruction receiver 216, the FL displayunit 217, the time manager 218, and the secure clock manager 219 throughthe bus 214.

The RAM 213 temporarily stores data input from the network controller215 or data read from the HDD 205 or the disk 206.

The bus 214 is a path for transmitting a signal in the recorder 101. Thebus 214 is connected to the tuner 201, the ADC 202, the video encoder203, the drive controller 204, the video decoder 207, the graphiccontroller 208, the video output unit 210, the flash memory 211, the CPU212, the RAM 213, the network controller 215, the time manager 218, andthe secure clock manager 219.

The network controller 215 requests the content server 104 to distributea content or the like through the Internet 103, and receives the contentstored in the content server 104 through the Internet 103.

The instruction receiver 216 receives an instruction from a user. Theinstruction receiver 216 may be, in particular, a light-receiving unitwhich receives an infrared ray from the remote controller 102 or abutton to control the recorder 101 arranged on a housing of the recorder101.

The FL display unit 217 displays time or an operation state of therecorder 101. The operation state of the recorder 101 is, for example,information indicating if a content is being downloaded.

The time manager 218 stores and manages information related to timedisplayed on the FL display unit 217. A user can change the timeinformation of the time manager 218 through the instruction receiver216.

The secure clock manager 219 stores the time information to manage aplayback time limit of a content. The time information of the secureclock manager 219 is updated by time information received by the networkcontroller 215. Unlike in the time manager 218, a user cannot change thetime information through the instruction receiver 216.

1-3 Information Managed by Content Server

FIG. 1B shows information managed by the content server 104. The contentserver 104 stores a content and meta information and license informationin relation to the content. The meta information is additionalinformation related to a content (details will be described later). Thelicense information is information including a key to decode thecontent, and includes license information for viewing, used for decodingthe content to allow the content to be viewed and license informationfor copy used when the content is copied.

2. Operations of Recording Broadcast Program and Playback of RecordedBroadcast Program 2-1 Recording of Broadcast Program

An operation of recording a broadcast program by the recorder 101 willbe described below. The tuner 201 selects and receives a broadcastsignal transmitted from a broadcast station and outputs a video signaland an audio signal of the program to the ADC 202. The ADC 202 performsdigital-conversion to the input signal to supply the digital signal tothe video encoder 203. The video encoder 203 receives an instruction forstarting of recording, then compresses and encodes the digital datasupplied from the ADC 202, and outputs the compressed and encodeddigital data to the drive controller 204. In the compressing andencoding process, for example, the video encoder 203 compresses andencodes data in the MPEG-2 format and generates an MPEG-2 program streamconforming to the DVD video recording standard. This process continuesuntil the video encoder 203 receives an instruction for ending ofrecording. The video encoder 203 uses the RAM 213 as a buffer fortemporarily storing frame data and so on to perform compression andencoding.

When receiving an instruction for starting the recording, the drivecontroller 204 performs a recording process. Thereafter, the drivecontroller 204 receives the output from the video encoder 203 to startwriting of the output in the HDD 205 or the disk 206. When no programstream is input after the drive controller 204 receives an instructionfor ending the recording, the drive controller 204 ends the writingprocess and performs a recording end process. The embodiment explainsthat the drive controller 204 controls transfer/receipt of informationto/from both the HDD 205 and the disk 206. However, the drive controller204 may be provided to each of a drive device for the HDD 205 and adrive device for the disk 206.

A broadcast program which is received is called a “broadcast content”,and a content which is downloaded is called a “download content”.

2-2 Playback of Recorded Broadcast Program

A playback operation of a recorded program by the recorder 101 will bedescribed below. The drive controller 204 reads data recorded in the HDD205 or the disk 206. The drive controller 204 outputs the read data tothe video decoder 207. The video decoder 207 decompresses the supplieddata which is compressed and encoded to convert the data intonon-compressed data, and then supplies the non-compressed data to thegraphic controller 208. The graphic controller 208 is connected to thememory 209 for an internal arithmetic operation, and can realize an OnScreen Display (OSD) function. For example, the graphic controller 208synthesizes various menu images with a video image to output the videoimage to the video output unit 210. The video output unit 210 suppliesthe input synthesized video image and audio data to the digitaltelevision 100.

3. Download of Content 3-1 Type of Downloaded Content

Kinds of content distribution in the content distribution system includetwo kinds, i.e., a VOD (Video On Demand) and a download. The VOD is aservice in which a content downloaded from the content server 104 isdisplayed on the digital television 100 without being recorded in arecording medium such as the HDD 205, thereby allowing a user to viewthe content in almost real time. On the other hand, the download is aservice in which the content downloaded from the content server 104 isrecorded in the recording medium such as the HDD 205 and the recordedcontent is played back and displayed on the digital television 100,thereby allowing a user to view the content.

Since the VOD displays the received content in almost real time, acommunication environment must be always a wide-band environment toprevent the content from being interrupted during viewing of thecontent. On the other hand, in the download service, the content istemporarily stored in the recording medium and the recorded content isviewed. For this reason, regardless of a communication environment, thecontent can be viewed without being interrupted. In the followingembodiment, an example in which content distribution is performed byusing the download service is described.

The download service is classified into two types, i.e., a rental systemand a cell system in terms of management of playback time limit for acontent. In the rental system, viewing is prohibited when apredetermined period of time (for example, two weeks) has passed sincethe content is viewed for the first time. On the other hand, the cellsystem is a system in which a time limit for viewing is not provided toa downloaded content. More specifically, once the content is downloaded,a user can semipermanently view the content. In the embodiment, when thecell system or the rental system is not described, any one of thesystems may be used.

With respect to the downloaded content (download content), when it isplayed back for the first time, regardless of the cell system or therental system, it needs to download license information which manages alicense of the content from the content server 104. This is because thedownload content is encrypted and key information (decoding key) todecode (decrypt) the encrypted content and information related to aplayback time limit of the content are included in the licenseinformation. When the content is to be played back, information relatedto the playback time limit in the license information is checked. When atime of playback is before the playback time limit, the content isdecoded with the key information.

3-2 Initial Setting

An initial setting of the recorder 101 will be described below. In orderto take a content distribution service, personal information (name,credit card number, and the like) of a user must be registered in therecorder 101. The user connects a LAN cable or the like to the recorder101 and connects the recorder 101 to the Internet 103.

When a user presses a button of “content distribution system” on theremote controller 102, the recorder 101 downloads HTML data for userregistration recorded in the content server 104 through the Internet103.

The downloaded HTML data is recorded in the RAM 213 through the networkcontroller 215. The CPU 212 interprets the HTML data recorded in the RAM213 and outputs the data to the graphic controller 208 as image data.Thereafter, the image data is transmitted to the digital television 100through the video output unit 210, and the digital television 100displays an image data video signal.

The user inputs the personal information of the user by using the remotecontroller 102. The input information is transmitted to the contentserver 104 and registered. In this manner, the user registration iscompleted.

3-3 Basic Operation of Download 3-3-1 Selection of Downloaded Contentsby User

A download operation of the content by the recorder 101 will bedescribed below. When a user presses the button of “content distributionsystem” of the remote controller 102, the instruction receiver 216detects that the button is pressed. The CPU 212 instructs the networkcontroller 215 to receive data of a content list of contents recorded inthe content server 104. The content list is described in, for example,HTML.

The network controller 215 requests the content server 104 to transmitthe content list data through the Internet 103. The content server 104which receives the request transmits the content list data to therecorder 101. When the network controller 215 receives the content listdata, the network controller 215 records the content list data in theRAM 213 through the bus 214. The CPU 212 interprets the content listdata recorded in the RAM 213 and outputs the content list data to thegraphic controller 208 as content list image data. The content listimage data is transmitted to the digital television 100 through thegraphic controller 208 and the video output unit 210. The digitaltelevision 100 displays the content list image based on the receivedimage data.

The user refers to the content list image displayed on the digitaltelevision 100 to select a content desired to be downloaded by using theremote controller 102.

When the instruction receiver 216 detects the selection of the contentby the user, the CPU 212 performs the control so that the contentselected by the user is downloaded from the content server 104. Thenetwork controller 215 requests the content server 104 to transmit thecontent to the recorder 101 through the Internet 103. The content server104 which receives the request starts transmission of the content to therecorder 101.

3-3-2 Download of Meta Information

When a content is to be downloaded from the content server 104, metainformation serving as additional information of the content to bedownloaded is downloaded first. Thereafter, the content such asaudio/video data is downloaded.

Download of meta information will be described below. The metainformation is additional information related to a content. As shown inFIG. 1B, the meta information includes a title of the content, aplayback time of the content, the number of allowable copy, information(URL) related to a server of a distribution source, and the like. Themeta information also includes a thumbnail image of the content andbundle information of the content. The bundle information is informationindicating whether the content is an object to be displayed in a bundle(referred to as “bundle display”). Details of the bundle display will bedescribed later.

The network controller 215 temporarily records the downloaded metainformation in the RAM 213. The drive controller 204 reads the metainformation recorded in the RAM 213 and records the meta information inthe HDD 205.

The network controller 215 continuously records to the RAM 213 the metainformation being downloaded, in the RAM until the download of the metainformation is finished. The drive controller 204 reads the metainformation which is recorded by the network controller 215 to the RAM213 from the RAM 213 to move the meta information to the HDD 205.

With the above operation, the meta information of the content recordedin the content server 104 can be recorded in the HDD 205.

Since the content is not downloaded during the download of the metainformation, playback of the content is impossible. Therefore, eventhough the instruction receiver 216 receives an instruction for playbackof the content being downloaded, the CPU 212 does not play back thecontent.

3-3-3 Download of Content

Download of a content will be described below. When finishing receptionof the meta information, the network controller 215 continuously startsreception of the content. The network controller 215 temporarily recordsthe content being downloaded in the RAM 213. The drive controller 204reads the downloaded content recorded in the RAM 213, and moves the readcontent to the HDD 205.

The network controller 215 continuously records the downloaded contentin the RAM 213 until the download of the content is completed. The drivecontroller 204 continuously moves the downloaded content from the RAM213 to the HDD 205 until the network controller 215 ends writing of thedownloaded content in the RAM 213.

With the above operation, the contents recorded in the content server104 can be recorded in the HDD 205.

The download content may also be set to be prohibited from being erasedwhen the downloaded content is recorded in the HDD 205, as an initialsetting. More specifically, in the meta information of the contentrecorded in the HDD 205, information indicating “erasing prohibition”may be described as an attribute related to erasure. When theinstruction receiver 216 receives an erasing instruction of thedownloaded content from a user, the CPU 212 may refer to an attributerelated to erasure of the content recorded in the HDD 205. Wheninformation indicating the “prohibition of erasure” is described, theCPU 212 may prohibit an erasing operation of the content from beingperformed.

That is, the recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recorder capable ofrecording in the HDD 205 a content which is downloaded from the contentserver 104 and playing back the content. The recorder 101 includes thedrive controller 204 and network controller 215 which are configured todownload a content stored in the content server 104 and record it in theHDD 205 as a download content, and the tuner 201, ADC 202, video encoder203, and the drive controller 204 which are configured to record abroadcast program received via a broadcast wave in the HDD 205 asbroadcast content, and the CPU 212 and drive controller 204 which areconfigured to erase the download content or broadcast content recordedin the HDD 205. The CPU 212 and drive controller 204 determine whetherthe content can be erased based on the attribute of the content relatedto erasure. The drive controller 204 and network controller 215 set theattribute related to erasure to a value indicating “prohibition oferasure” when the downloaded content is recorded in the HDD 205. Thetuner 201, ADC 202, video encoder 203, and drive controller 204 set theattribute related to erasing to a value indicating “allowance oferasure” when the broadcast content is recorded in the HDD 205.

After receiving an instruction for playback instruction of the content,the CPU 212 may erase the content when receiving an instruction for theerasure instruction from the user. Alternatively, after playback of thecontent is completed, the CPU 212 may erase the content when receivingthe instruction for erasure instruction from the user. Morespecifically, when receiving the playback instruction of the content, orwhen playback of the content is completed, the CPU 212 may update anattribute related to erasure of the content from “prohibition oferasure” to “allowance of erasure”.

When the instruction receiver 216 receives an instruction for switchingthe attribute related to erasure of the content from “prohibition oferasure” to “allowance of erasure”, the CPU 212 changes attributerelated to erasure of the meta information recorded in the HDD 205. Morespecifically, the content of the information described in the metainformation that indicates “prohibition of erasure” is updated to“allowance of erasure”. In this manner, the content of which metainformation is updated becomes erasable. More specifically, when theinstruction receiver 216 receives the erasure instruction to thedownloaded content from a user, the CPU 212 instructs the drivecontroller 204 to erase the content, so that the drive controller 204erases the content. The attribute related to erasure of the content maybe configured to be changed from “prohibition of erasure” to “allowanceof erasure” based on a user's instruction.

As described above, it is configured that when attribute informationindicating whether “erasure” is possible is included in the metainformation, so that a downloaded content can be prevented from beingerroneously erased by a user.

In contrast to this, the broadcast content is preferably set to beerasable as an initial setting when a broadcast content is recorded inthe HDD 205. More specifically, information indicating “allowance oferasure” may be described in the meta information of the broadcastcontent recorded in the HDD 205. This is because usability becomes badsince an operation of canceling the “prohibition of erasure” frequentlyoccurs when frequency of recording the broadcast content is high and“prohibition of erasure” is set as the initial setting.

As described above, the CPU 212 can erase a download content orbroadcast content recorded in the HDD 205. The CPU 212 can also prohibitthe download content or the broadcast content from being erased. The CPU212, immediately after a download content is recorded in the HDD 205(i.e., as an initial setting), prohibits erasure of the downloadcontent, while immediately after a broadcast content is recorded in theHDD 205, the CPU 212 may not prohibit erasure of the broadcast content.

In this manner, initial settings of erasure prohibition is differentdepending on contents, it can be prevented to accidentally erase adownloaded content and an operation of erasing a broadcast content canbe efficiently performed.

4. Display of Recording List and Playback of Content 4-1 Display ofRecording List

The recorder 101 can display a list (to be referred to as a “recordinglist” hereinafter) of contents recorded in the HDD 205. A user selects adesired content from the recording list to make it possible to instructthe recorder 101 to play back the desired content. An operation ofdisplaying a recording list will be described below.

When a user presses a button of “recording list” on the remotecontroller 102, the instruction receiver 216 detects that the userpresses the button. The CPU 212 instructs the drive controller 204 toread meta information of all or part of the contents recorded in the HDD205. The drive controller 204 reads the meta information of all or partof the contents recorded in the HDD 205 and records the read metainformation in the RAM 213. The contents from which the meta informationis read may include both or either one of a content obtained byrecording broadcast program and a downloaded content. The CPU 212interprets the meta information recorded in the RAM 213 to create animage of a recording list which is a list of contents recorded in theHDD 205. The recording list image is transmitted to the digitaltelevision 100 through the graphic controller 208 and the video outputunit 210 and is displayed.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of the recording list image.With respect to the content recorded in the HDD 205, a thumbnail image31 related to the content, a content status 32, a recording date 33,information 34 about a source such as a channel, and a title information35 are displayed. These pieces of information are stored in the metainformation. Here, “N/V” of the content status 32 indicates that arecorded content is a content which has not been viewed yet. Similarly,“NEW” indicates that the recorded content is a content of a new program.The circle symbol indicates that the content is being recorded, and“BUNDLE” indicates that contents are displayed in a manner of bundledisplay. The “bundle display” is a function which manages and displays aplurality of contents having the same attribute on the recording list asone content. The contents having the same attribute are, for example, aseries of dramas, a series of movies, the same television program, andthe like. In the example in FIG. 3, contents of “Drama, MiracleExperience!” are displayed in a bundle. For example, when contentsincluding No. 1 to No. 3 of “Drama, Miracle Experience!” are displayedin a bundle and further a row of “Drama, Miracle Experience!” isselected on the recording list, a list of the contents displayed in abundle is displayed as shown in FIG. 3B.

A user can enlarge a display of a content interested by the user on therecording list by pressing an up/down key on the remote controller 102.FIG. 3A shows an example in which a display of “Hyper Beijing Olympic”is enlarged and displayed. In a content detail display area 300, contentdetail information such as number of times of allowable copy, allowableplayback period, a playback time of a content is displayed. A contentimage display area 301 is an area for displaying a thumbnail image or areduced moving image. In particular, the content image display area 301of the selected content is enlarged and displayed. A reduced movingimage may be displayed on the enlarged content image display area 301.Display of the reduced moving image is realized as follows. As normalcontent playback, the drive controller 204 reads the content, decodesthe content read by the video decoder 207, and outputs the decodedcontent to the graphic controller 208. The graphic controller 208creates a recording list such that the decoded content is displayed inthe enlarged content detail display area 300. In this manner, the usercan view a preview of a video of the content which is selected andenlarged to be displayed.

That is, the recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recorder capable ofdownloading a content from the content server 104, recording the contentin the HDD 205, and playing back the content. The recorder 101 includesthe drive controller 204 configured to download a content stored in thecontent server 104 and having additional information, the drivecontroller 204 and video decoder 207 which are configured to play backthe content stored in the HDD 205 by the download, and the CPU 212 andgraphic controller 208 which are configured to create data of arecording list displaying a list of information for all or part ofcontents stored in the HDD 205. The CPU 212 and graphic controller 208obtains a thumbnail image from additional information of the content andvideo decoder 207, and create the data of the list image including theobtained thumbnail image, before playback of the content by the drivecontroller 204 and video decoder 207. After playback of the content bythe drive controller 204 and video decoder 207, the CPU 212 and graphiccontroller 208 creates a reduced moving image based on the content, andcreates the data of the list image including the reduced moving image.

License information is required to play back a download content. Whenthe recorder 101 does not download license information of the contentfrom the content server 104, the recorder 101 displays a thumbnail image(reduced still image). In the content image display area 301 which isnot enlarged and displayed, an image for the thumbnail included in themeta information is displayed.

More specifically, before the drive controller 204 and the video decoder207 play back a content recorded in the HDD 205 and added with the metainformation, the CPU 212 acquires the thumbnail image from the metainformation and controls the graphic controller 208 to create displaydata including the acquired thumbnail image. Then, after the drivecontroller 204 and the video decoder 207 play back the content (that is,after acquisition of the license information), the CPU 212 generates areduced moving image based on the content and controls the graphiccontroller 208 to create display data including the generated reducedmoving image.

In this manner, displaying the reduced moving image makes it easy torecognize the content. In addition, even though the reduced image cannotbe generated, the thumbnail image is displayed so that the content canbe easily recognized.

After selecting a content to be enlarged and displayed, a user presses aset button on the remote controller 102 to play back the selectedcontent. A playback operation of the content will be described later.

In a recording list image shown in FIG. 3, as the information 34 relatedto a source of a content such as a channel, “Terrestrial Digital 010” or“TATSUYA TV” is described. The former indicates the number of channelsof terrestrial digital broadcasting, and the latter is informationindicating a download source of a content. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, inthe present embodiment, a broadcast content and a downloaded content canbe displayed together on one recording list image. More specifically,the graphic controller 208 creates data for a recording list whichincludes information indicating both the download content and thebroadcast content which are recorded in the HDD 205.

In short, the recorder 101 of the present embodiment is a recordercapable of downloading a content from the content server 104, recordingthe content in the HDD 205 and playing back the content. The recorder101 includes the drive controller 204 and network controller 215 whichare configured to download a content stored in the content server 104,recording the content in the HDD 205 as download content, the tuner 201,ADC 202, video encoder 203, and the drive controller 204 which areconfigured to record a broadcast program received via a broadcast wavein the HDD 205 as broadcast content, and the CPU 212 and graphiccontroller 208 which are configured to create data of a recording listindicating a list of information for all or part of contents stored inthe HDD 205. The CPU 212 and graphic controller 208 create a recordinglist in which information indicating download content and informationindicating broadcast content are displayed together.

In the recording list, tabs 302 to classify an display contents underpredetermined conditions are provided. A user selects any one of thetabs to make it possible to display a recording list which is desirablyfiltered. In FIGS. 3A-3B, for example, an “ALL” tab is a tab to displayall contents. A “NOT VIEWED” tab is a tab to display contents which havenot been viewed yet.

An operation performed when a user selects a “DOWNLOAD” tab 302 will bedescribed below. When the instruction receiver 216 receives selection ofthe “DOWNLOAD” tab 302 by a user operation, the CPU 212 instructs thedrive controller 204 to read the meta information of the contentrecorded in the HDD 205. The drive controller 204 reads meta informationof a content recorded in the HDD 205 and related to download so as torecord the meta information in the RAM 213. The CPU 212 interprets themeta information recorded in the RAM 213, extracts only the metainformation of the downloaded content, not the broadcast content, andcreates a recording list image as a list of the download contentrecorded in the HDD 205. The recording list image is transmitted to thedigital television 100 through the graphic controller 208 and the videooutput unit 210.

More specifically, regarding attributes of the download content and thebroadcast content recorded in the HDD 205, the CPU 212 receives aselection instruction through the tab 302 and groups the contentsrecorded in the HDD 205 depending on the accepted selection instruction.

With the above method, filtering is performed based on attributeinformation selected by a user so that it becomes possible to displaythe recording list. The attribute information of the filtering mayinclude “NOT VIEWED” indicating content which has not been viewed yet,“AUTOMATIC” indicating automatic recording of a new program, “DRAMA”,“MOVIE”, or “SPORT” indicating a category of a content, “RECORDED VIDEO”indicating a content captured by a video camcorder, and the like.

4-2 Playback of Download Content

A playback operation of a content (content of a rental system) with aplayback time limit, recorded in the HDD 205 will be described belowwith reference to the flow chart in FIG. 4.

When a user selects a content which is desired to be played back byusing the remote controller 102 on a content list image displayed on thedigital television 100, the instruction receiver 216 receives a playbackinstruction of the content (S401). When the selected content is abroadcast content, a playback operation is executed as described inSection 2-2. “Playback of recorded broadcast program”. On the otherhand, when the selected content is a downloaded content, the contentmust be decoded by using key information included in licenseinformation.

When the selected content is a download content, the CPU 212 determineswhether the content has been viewed at least once or has not been viewedyet (S402). This determination is made by checking whether the licenseinformation of the content is recorded in the HDD 205. When the contenthas been viewed, the content is played back (S405).

On the other hand, the content has not been viewed yet, the CPU 212instructs the graphic controller 208 to display a warning screen. Thewarning screen includes a warning message related to a playback timelimit of the content and a selection button by which a user watching thewarning message selects whether to execute or to stop playback of thecontent. The graphic controller 208 reads image data of the warningscreen from the memory 209, superposes the image data on the recordinglist, and outputs the recording list via the video output unit 210(S403).

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example in which the warning screen isdisplayed on the recording list. A warning message related to a playbacktime limit and a button by which a user selects whether to start or tocancel playback of the content are displayed.

When the user selects “CANCEL” on the warning screen shown in FIG. 5Athrough the remote controller 102 (S404), the CPU 212 stops playback ofthe content (S406). On the other hand, the user selects “START” (S404),the CPU 212 downloads license information of the content from thecontent server 104, and then plays back the content (S405). A playbackperiod of the content starts from a moment the license information iscompletely downloaded. More specifically, when the user selects “START”,the content server 104 writes a playback time limit in the licenseinformation to transmit the license information to the recorder 101. Theplayback of the content in the recorder 101 is limited to the playbacktime limit written in the license information.

Before playback of the download content is started, i.e., before thelicense information is acquired, information indicating an allowableplayback period of the content is displayed in the content detaildisplay area 300. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, “Possibleto view for 48 hours” is displayed as the allowable playback period of“Hyper Beijing Olympic”. This is because, at that time, the playbacktime limit is not fixed. However, once the download content istemporarily played back, i.e., the license information is acquired, theplayback time limit of the content is fixed. Therefore, after thedownload content is played back, i.e., the license information isacquired, the playback time limit (viewing time limit) of the content isdisplayed. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, as a playback time limit of“Hyper Beijing Olympic”, “Possible to view until 12:34 on Feb. 19, 2008”is displayed. In this manner, it is determined whether to display anallowable playback period or a playback time limit based onacquisition/not-acquisition of the license information.

4-2-1 Download of License Information

A download operation of license information will be described below indetail. When no license information of a content is recorded in the HDD205, the CPU 212 instructs the network controller 215 to downloadlicense information of a content selected to be played back by a userfrom the content server 104. The network controller 215 requests thecontent server 104 to transmit the license information of the contentthrough the Internet 103. The content server 104 which receives therequest starts transmission of the license information to the recorder101.

The network controller 215 receives the license information from thecontent server 104, and temporarily records the received licenseinformation in the RAM 213. The drive controller 204 reads the licenseinformation recorded in the RAM 213 and records the license informationin the HDD 205.

With respect to a content (content of a cell system) having no playbacktime limit, in cases where the license information is not downloaded,when the instruction receiver 216 receives a playback instruction of thecontent from a user, the network controller 215 may download the licenseinformation without displaying of warning information.

When the network controller 215 cannot acquire the license informationdue to an error on a communication path or the like, the networkcontroller 215 requests to transmit the license information again.However, if the license information cannot be received even after apredetermined period of time (for example, 15 seconds) has passed, atransmission request of the license information is stopped.

4-2-2 Content Playback Operation After License Information is Received

A playback operation of a content after license information is receivedwill be described below. The downloaded content is decoded based on thelicense information and then is played back. The drive controller 204reads the license information from the HDD 205 and records the licenseinformation in the RAM 213. Subsequently, the drive controller 204 readsthe content in the HDD 205. The drive controller 204 decodes the contentbased on key information included in the license information recorded inthe HDD 205 and supplies the decoded content to the video decoder 207.The video decoder 207 is connected to the graphic controller 208 for aninternal arithmetic operation, so that an On Screen Display (OSD)function can be realized. For example, the graphic controller 208synthesizes various menu images with a video image to output thesynthesized image to the video output unit 210. In this manner, thecontents can be played back.

In the embodiment, various warning images to be superposed on arecording list image are stored in the memory 209, and the graphiccontroller 208 superposes the various warning images on the recordinglist image so as to display the superposed image on the digitaltelevision 100.

As a playback time limit included in the license information, allowableplayback start time may be set. In general, for most of new movies, acontent provider usually instructs timing of delivery to the user.However, if a user is not permitted to download the content until thedelivery timing, the user must download the content for a long timeafter the delivery timing comes, and the user cannot play back thecontent immediately after the delivery timing comes. Furthermore, alarge number of accesses to the content server may occur immediatelyafter the delivery timing. Distributing the content in advance with theallowable playback start time described in the license informationallows a content distribution system to be easy-to-use for a user andthe right of the content provider to be protected. In this case, whenplayback of the content is selected before the allowable playback starttime, a warning screen shown in FIG. 6 can also be displayed.

4-3 Recording List and Operational Constraints During Download

4-3-1 Recording list and Operational Constraints During Download of MetaInformation

A recording list during download of meta information and operationalconstraints of the recorder 101 during the download of the metainformation will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a recording list duringdownload of meta information. While the meta information is beingdownloaded, the content itself cannot be downloaded and thus a movingimage cannot be displayed. Furthermore, it may not be possible todisplay a thumbnail image included in the meta information because thedownload of the meta information is not completed. Therefore, thecontent image display area 301 is set to a blank region displaying nomoving image. During the download of the meta information, “INPREPARATION FOR DOWNLOAD” is displayed in the content detail displayarea 300. Since the download of the meta information is a preparatorystage of the download of the content, “IN PREPARATION FOR DOWNLOAD” isdisplayed while the meta information is downloaded.

When playback is selected during the download of the meta data, awarning screen as shown in FIG. 8 indicating that a playback operationcannot be executed is displayed on the digital television 100. Morespecifically, the graphic controller 208 reads data of a warning screenrecorded in the memory 209 and superposes the warning screen on therecording list screen so that a warning screen can be displayed on thedigital television 100.

More specifically, the network controller 215 and the drive controller204 download a content with meta information stored in the contentserver 104 and records the content in the HDD 205. The drive controller204 and the video decoder 207 reproduce the content that has metainformation and is recorded in the HDD 205 by the download. The CPU 212and the graphic controller 208 create display data to display contentinformation related to at least one of contents recorded in the HDD 205.The CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208 cause the network controller215 and the drive controller 204 to start download of the content withmeta information. When download of the meta information added to thecontent is started, the CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208 createdisplay data to display content information related to the content. Onthe other hand, when download of a content to be played back by thedrive controller 204 and the video decoder 207 is not started, the CPU212 and the graphic controller 208 create display data including warninginformation indicating that the content cannot be played back.

4-3-2 Recording List and Operational Constraints During Download ofContent

A recording list during download of a content and operationalconstraints of the recorder 101 during the download of the content willbe described below. FIG. 9A is an example of a recording list displayedon the digital television 100 during download of a content. Therecording list in FIG. 9A is different from the recording list duringthe download of the meta information shown in FIG. 7 in that an image isdisplayed in the content image display area 301 and that a progress ofdownload of the content, for example, “downloading, 20%” is described inthe content detail display area 300. An image displayed in the contentimage display area 301 will be described below. When the content isviewed in advance and has license information which is acquired, thecontent can be decoded by the license information. For this reason, areduced moving image of the content is displayed in the content imagedisplay area 301. On the other hand, when the license information is notacquired, the content cannot be decoded and played back. For thisreason, a still image included in meta information is displayed in thecontent image display area 301. Progress information of download, forexample, “downloading, 20%” is displayed as detailed information of thecontent.

FIG. 9B is a diagram showing another example of a recording listdisplayed during download of a content, in which no information of thecontent being downloaded is displayed on a recording list. In order tocheck the details of the download, a predetermined button (a red button40 in FIG. 9B) is depressed. In this manner, a list of the contentsbeing downloaded as shown in FIG. 9C is displayed, so that the detailsof the download can be checked. FIGS. 9B and 9C show an example in whichmeta information of another content (“Drama, Miracle Experience! No. 4”)is being downloaded together with a certain content (“Drama, MiracleExperience! No. 3”).

In the embodiment, during the download of the content, editing of thecontent is prohibited. The editing mentioned here includes, inparticular, an operation of dividing a content (program), an operationof connecting contents (programs), and an operation of erasing content(program).

FIG. 10 shows an example of a screen (editing item list) displayed whena user provides an editing instruction of a content. An editing itemlist 303 includes a plurality of items corresponding to editingoperations. A background color of an item which cannot be edited is setto gray. An operation of creating the editing item list 303 shown inFIG. 10 will be described below with reference to a flow chart in FIG.11.

A user selects edit of the content in a recording list, and theinstruction receiver 216 receives the selection (S1101). Then, the CPU212 determines whether the edit is made to a content which is beingdownloaded or to another kind of content (S1102). When the edit is madeto the content which is being downloaded, the CPU 212 instructs thegraphic controller 208 to create an editing item list image with abackground color for an item (“non-editable item”) which can not beedited set to gray. The graphic controller 208 changes the backgroundcolor of the non-editable item into gray with reference to image data ofthe memory 209 and generates the editing item list 303 to superpose theediting item list 303 on the recording list image (S1103). For example,in FIG. 10, background colors of items of program erasing, programediting, a chapter list, and chapter editing are changed into gray. Theediting item list 303 with the background colors of the non-editableitems changed into gray is superposed on the recording list image totransmit the superposed image to the digital television 100 through thevideo output unit 210. In this manner, the digital television 100displays the image on which the editing item list image with thebackground colors of the non-editable items changed into gray issuperposed.

On the other hand, when the edit is not made to the content which isbeing downloaded, the CPU 212 instructs the graphic controller 208 tocreate a usual editing item list image (S1104).

More specifically, when the instruction receiver 216 receives a requestrelated to editing of a download content and made by a user, the CPU 212edits the content recorded in the HDD 205 based on the editing request.At this time, the CPU 212 does not receive the editing request to thecontent regardless of a user operation, as long as the networkcontroller 215 is downloading the content.

That is, the recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recorder capable ofrecording in the HDD 205 a content which is downloaded from the contentserver 104 and playing back the content. The recorder 101 includes thedrive controller 204 configured to download the content stored in thecontent server 104 to record the downloaded content in the HDD 205, theinstruction receiver 216 configured to receive user request for editingthe downloaded content, and the CPU 212 configured to edit the contentstored in the HDD 205 according to the request. The instruction receiver216 does not accept the request for editing the content while the drivecontroller 204 is downloading the content. Hence, it is possible toprevent the user from accidentally editing the content which is beingdownloaded.

The CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208 create data of a content listwhich includes all or part of the contents recorded in the HDD 205 anddisplays a list of the all or part of the contents. When the CPU 212displays a list of editing items to a content being downloaded, the CPU212 changes display methods for non-editable editing items.

That is, the recorder 101 of the embodiment further includes the CPU 212and graphic controller 208 configured to create data of a recording listto display a list of content information for all or part of contentsrecorded in the HDD 205. The CPU 212 and graphic controller 208 furthercreate image data of a list of editing items for a content beingdownloaded, in which a displaying method of an editing item which is noteditable is different from that of an editing item which is editable inthe list of editing items. This allows the user to easily discriminateediting operations that the user can do from editing operations that theuser can not do.

In this manner, during the download of the content, the content isprohibited from being edited, and a user can determine whether editingis prohibited by only looking at the editing item list image.

The recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recorder capable of downloadinga content from the content server 104, recording the downloaded contentin the HDD 205, and playing back the content. In the recorder 101, thenetwork controller 215 and the drive controller 204 acquire metainformation of the content, stored in the content server 104, andprepare for start of download of the content. After the preparation iscompleted, the content is downloaded from the server and recorded in theHDD 205. The CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208 create content listdata for displaying a list of at least part of contents recorded the HDD205. Especially, the CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208 create thecontent list data such that a list displayed when the network controller215 and the drive controller 204 perform the preparing operation fordownload is different from a list displayed when the network controller215 and the drive controller 204 performs download.

Even though the download of the content is not completed, when thedownload of the content is stopped, editing of the content may bepermitted. More specifically, even though the network controller 215does not complete download of the content, while the download of thecontent is stopped, the CPU 212 may accept an editing request to thecontent.

While the content is downloaded, the bundle display can also beprohibited. The bundle display is a function of displaying contentshaving the same type in a recording list as one content. For example, inthe example in FIG. 9, “Drama, Miracle Experience!” is displayed inbundle display method.

More specifically, the instruction receiver 216 receives a selectioninstruction for attributes of a download content and a broadcast contentrecorded in the HDD 205. The CPU 212 groups the contents recorded in theHDD 205 according to the selection instruction accepted by theinstruction receiver 216. The CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208create the content list data.

However, when a content being downloaded is displayed in a bundle,progress of the download cannot be easily checked. Therefore, when acontent to be displayed in bundle display manner is being downloaded,the content may not be displayed in bundle display manner and a progressof the download may be displayed in another area on the recording list.The CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208 create a recording list sothat information for a content of which additional information is beingdownloaded is not included in the recording list.

A concrete operation performed when a content being downloaded isdisplayed in another area on a recording list without the bundle displayof the content being downloaded will be explained below. FIG. 12A is adiagram showing an example of a recording list during download of acontent according to such an operation. When creating a recording listfrom meta information recorded in the RAM 213, the CPU 212 refers toinformation related to bundle display to determine whether there arecontents to be displayed in a bundle. When there are contents to bedisplayed in a bundle, the CPU 212 further determines whether there is acontent which is being downloaded in the contents to be displayed in abundle. When there is no content which is being downloaded, the CPU 212displays a recording list which displaying those contents in a bundle.When there is a content being downloaded, the CPU 212 does not displaythe content being downloaded in a bundle but displays it in an area(lowermost row) other than the area (third row) for the bundle displayon the recording list, as shown in FIG. 12. When the area of “Drama,Miracle Experience!” which is being downloaded is enlarged anddisplayed, as shown in FIG. 12B, details of a progress of the downloadare displayed. In this manner, a user can check the progress.

That is, the recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recorder capable ofdownloading a content from the content server 104, recording the contentin the HDD 205, and playing back the content. The recorder 101 includesthe drive controller 204 configured to download a content includingattribute data stored in the content server 104 to record the content inthe HDD 205, the CPU 218 and graphic controller 208 which are configuredto create a list image data to display a list of content information forall or part of contents stored in the HDD 205. The CPU 218 and graphiccontroller 208 handle in one bundle a plurality of contents having thesame attribute data, as one content, to create the list image data ofthe contents. The content which is being downloaded and has the sameattribute is handled separately from the one bundle in creating the listimage data.

According to the display method, since a progress of download of acontent which is being downloaded can be checked with reference to arecording list, the progress of download can be easily checked.

FIG. 12C is a diagram showing a recording list obtained upon completionof the download. The content which the download is completed isdisplayed in a bundle upon completion of the download. Therefore, duringthe download, as shown in FIG. 12B, the number of contents in bundledisplay “Drama, Miracle Experience!” is 2. In contrast to this, uponcompletion of the download, as shown in FIG. 12C, the number of contentsincreases to 3. In this state, when a row of “Drama, MiracleExperience!” in bundle display on the recording list is selected, a listof contents in bundle display is displayed as shown in FIG. 12D.

4-4 Display of Recording List of Age-limited Content and Playback ofAge-Limited Content 4-4-1 Recording of User Age Information

Contents such as contents including a scene of violence which adverselyaffects children must be restricted to be played back depending on theage. With respect to these contents, display of only titles or thumbnailimages in the recording list may be sometimes harmful to children.Therefore, the recorder 101 according to the embodiment can regulatedisplay or playback of a recording list depending on user ageinformation. First, a method of recording user age information toregulate display or playback of a recording list will be explained. Byan operation performed by a user by using the remote controller 102, therecorder 101 displays a screen for inputting an age on the digitaltelevision 100. The user age information is input to the recorder 101 byan operation by the user through the remote controller 102. The user ageinformation is age information of a user who uses the recorder 101, andcan be arbitrarily registered by the user. When the instruction receiver216 receives an input from the user, the CPU 212 records the user ageinformation on the flash memory 211.

4-4-2 Recording List of Age-limited Content

A method of displaying an age-limited content on a recording list willbe explained. For a content recorded in the HDD 205, an age limit levelis set depending on the degree of harmfulness of the content. Age-limitlevels are classified into, for example, the following three levels:

Level 1) A content itself is not harmful. A title or a thumbnail imageof the content can be displayed on a recording list without harmfuleffects, or the content can be played back without harmful effects. Thecontent is called a “non-harmful content”.;

Level 2) A title or a thumbnail image of a content can displayed on arecording list without harmful effects, but the content itself includesharmful information. The content is called a “low-harmful content.; and

Level 3) A title or a thumbnail image of a content includes harmfulinformation, and the content itself includes harmful information. Thecontent is called a “high-harmful content”.

In the embodiment, information (to be referred to as“degree-of-harmfulness information” hereinafter) indicating that acontent is any one of an “non-harmful content”, a “low-harmfulnesscontent”, and a “high-harmful content” is provided. Thedegree-of-harmfulness information is stored in meta information.Information which defines an age serving as a reference age fordetermining whether playback of a content is permitted is described inthe meta information. The information will be called “target ageinformation” hereinafter. For example, for a low-harmful content,information indicating any one of ages ranging from 12 to 19 isdescribed in the meta information as the target age information. Thelow-harmful content is controlled such that the content can always bedisplayed on a recording list but the content can be played back onlywhen a value of user age information input by a user is equal to orhigher than a value of the target age information of the content. For ahigh-harmful content, for example, “20” is set to the target ageinformation. With respect to the high-harmful content, when user ageinformation represents 20 or more, the content is controlled to bedisplayed on a recording list and to be played back. On the other hand,the user age information indicates a value lower than 20, the content iscontrolled to be prohibited from being displayed on a recording list andfrom being played back. An operation performed when a recording list isdisplayed by an instruction from a user will be explained by using aflow chart in FIG. 13. When the user presses a button of “recordinglist” on the remote controller 102, the instruction receiver 216 detectsthat the button is pressed (S1301). Then the CPU 212 instructs the drivecontroller 204 to read meta information of all or part of the contentsrecorded in the HDD 205. The drive controller 204 reads the metainformation of all or part of the contents recorded in the HDD 205 andrecords the meta information in the RAM 213. The CPU 212 interprets themeta information recorded in the RAM 213. In the following explanation,it is assumed that, for example, contents shown in FIG. 14 is recordedin the HDD 205. In this case, a content having a title of “R20 PROGRAM”corresponds to a “high-harmful content”. The CPU 212 refers to user ageinformation recorded in the flash memory 211 (S1302). When the user ageinformation recorded in the flash memory 211 indicates 20 or more(S1303), a recording list image which displays all contents, as shown inFIG. 14, is created (S1306). The created recording list image istransmitted to and displayed on the digital television 100 through thegraphic controller 208 and the video output unit 210. In the recordinglist shown in FIG. 14, “R20 PROGRAM” which is a “high-harmful content”is displayed on the recording list.

On the other hand, when the user age information recorded in the flashmemory 211 indicates a value lower than 20 (S1303), an age limit is notcleared. For this reason, the CPU 212 determines whether a “high-harmfulcontent” is recorded in the HDD 205 based on the meta information(degree-of-harmfulness information) recorded in the RAM 213 (S1304).Contents other than the high-harmful content are displayed on therecording list (S1305). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, arecording list image is created including no “R20 program”.

The created recording list image is transmitted through the graphiccontroller 208 and the video output unit 210 to the digital television100 and displayed thereon. In FIG. 15, the “R20 program” as a“high-harmful content” is not displayed on the recording list screen.

In short, with respect to a content to be included in a list out of thecontents recorded in the HDD 205, when the content includes target ageinformation, the CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208 determineswhether content information indicating the content is included in thelist based on the target age information and user age information storedin the flash memory 211. In this manner, harmful information can beprevented from being presented to young users.

4-4-3 Playback of Age-limited Content

A method of playback of an age-limited content will be explained byusing a flow chart in FIG. 16.

A user selects a content to be played back with a recording list (S1601)displayed on the digital television 100. When user age informationrepresents a value less than 20, “high-harmful content” is not displayedin the recording list, and only an “non-harmful content” and a“low-harmful content” are displayed in the recording list.

When the instruction receiver 216 detects selection of a content, theCPU 212 refers to degree-of-harmfulness information of the selectedcontent. The selected content is an “non-harmful content” (S1602), thecontent is normally played back (S1604).

On the other hand, when the selected content is a “low-harmful content”(S1602), the CPU 212 refers to user age information recorded in theflash memory 211 and target age information stored in meta informationof the content. When a value represented by the user age information islarger than a value represented by the target age information (S1603),the content is normally played back (S1604). On the other hand, when anage represented by the user age information is smaller than an agerepresented by the target age information (S1603), the content isprohibited from being played back (S1605).

More specifically, with respect to a content to be played back among thecontents recorded in the HDD 205, when the content includes target ageinformation, the drive controller 204 and the video decoder 207determines permission/prohibition of playback of the content based onthe target age information and the user age information stored in theflash memory 211. With the above description, depending on the user ageinformation recorded in the flash memory 211, it can be determinedwhether playback of a content is possible.

The target age information may include first age limit data used by theCPU 212 and the graphic controller 208 for determining whether contentinformation is included in the list and a second age limit data used bythe drive controller 204 and the video decoder 207 for determiningwhether the content is played back. In this case, a target age of therecording list can be handled separately from a target age of playbackof the content.

4-4-4 Cancellation of Age Limit by inputting Password

The recorder 101 records a predetermined password. A user can cancel anage limit of a content by inputting the password. When the age limit ofthe content is designed to be able to be canceled, an age limit forplayback of an age-limited content and display of the content in arecording list can be eliminated.

Password information is pre-installed in the flash memory 211. When auser cancels the age limit of the content, an input screen to input apassword is displayed by the user with the remote controller 102. FIG.17 shows an example of an input screen to input a password.

The user inputs a password in the recorder 101 by using the remotecontroller 102. When the instruction receiver 216 detects the inputpassword, the CPU 212 compares a password stored in the flash memory 211with the password input by the user.

When the passwords are matched, the CPU 212 cancels the age limit of thecontent. In this case, the CPU 212 creates a recording list again,allowing a content which cannot be displayed because of the age limit tobe displayed. The CPU 212 permits playback of a content which is notpermitted to be played back because of the age limit. On the other hand,the passwords are not matched, control related to the age limit of thecontent is maintained.

Once the age limit of the content is canceled, cancellation of the agelimit of the content is maintained until the power supply of therecorder 101 is turned off. Therefore, the user does not need torepeatedly input the password.

More specifically, even when the CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208determine that content information indicating the content is notincluded in the list, the CPU 212 cancels the determination and controlsthe graphic controller 208 to cause the list to include the contentinformation.

With the above description, the user can cancel the age limit ofdisplaying the content in the recording list by inputting the password.

Even though the drive controller 204 and the video decoder 207 determinenot to play back the content, the CPU 212 cancels the determination andcontrols the drive controller 204 and the video decoder 207 to play backthe content.

With the above description, the user can cancel the age limit related toplayback of the content by inputting the password.

Playback of an age-limited content and display of the content in arecording list can be permitted simultaneously with the same password.

More specifically, even though the CPU 212 determines that contentinformation indicating a content is not included in the list with thesame operation by the user, the CPU 212 can control the graphiccontroller 208 to display the list. Even though the CPU 212 determinesthat playback of the content is prohibited, the CPU 212 can control thedrive controller 204 and the video decoder 207 to perform a playbackoperation. The same operation by the user may be an operation ofinputting the same password.

The canceling function of an age limit is set as described above. Forthis reason, when the recorder 101 is used in a home, by recording userage information depending on ages of children, it is possible to preventthe children from viewing a harmful content. Furthermore, when an adultuser uses the recorder 101, once the user inputs a password, the usercan freely view the content thereafter.

5. Special Operation During Download 5-1 Follow-up Playback DuringDownload

An operation of playback of a content with a playback time limit(content of a rental system) during download of the content will beexplained by using a flow chart in FIG. 18. This playback operation iscalled “follow-up playback” hereinafter.

When a user selects on a recording list a content which the follow-upplayback is to be executed and the instruction receiver 216 receives theselection (S1801), the drive controller 204 determines whether theselected content has not been viewed yet (S1802). This determination isperformed by checking the presence/absence of the license information inthe HDD 205.

When the content is a content which has already been viewed, the contentis played back (S1808). On the other hand, the content is a contentwhich has not been viewed yet, a warning screen including a warningmessage related to a playback time limit of the content and a selectionbutton for a user to select playback of the content or stop of theplayback in response to the warning is displayed on the recording listscreen, as shown in FIG. 5A (S1803).

A warning screen related to the playback time limit of the content isexplained here. When a content to be played back is a content of a cellsystem, it may be warned that playback of the content is stopped on theway. For example, a warning screen as shown in FIG. 19 may besuperposed.

When a user selects cancel of playback (S1804), the CPU 212 cancelsplayback of the content (S1809).

On the other hand, when the user selects playback (S1804), the CPU 212determines whether the content is being downloaded (S1805). When thecontent is not being downloaded, the CPU 212 reproduces the content(S1808). On the other hand, when the content is being downloaded, theCPU 212 displays, over the recording list, a warning screen including awarning message indicating that playback of the content may possibly bestopped and a selection button by which a user can select playback ofcontent or stop of the playback in response to the warning (S1806).

The warning screen indicating that playback of content may possibly bestopped is explained here. A playback time limit is started by startingthe playback of the content. Therefore, when a download rate is low, theplayback time limit in executing follow-up playback may possibly expirebefore the download of the content is completed. In this case, a problemoccurs in that the content cannot be played back completely to the end.Therefore, when the follow-up playback is performed, it is preferable towarn to a user in advance that playback of the entire content may beimpossible. For example, the warning screen as shown in FIG. 20 isdisplayed.

After the warning screen is displayed on the recording list screen, theCPU 212 determines whether the user selects playback or cancel of theplayback (S1807).

When the cancel of the playback is selected by the user, the CPU 212cancels the playback of the content (S1809). On the other hand, when theuser selects the playback, the CPU 212 plays back the content (S1808).

In this manner, the recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recorder capableof recording in the HDD 205 a content which is downloaded from thecontent server 104 and playing back the content. The recorder 101includes the drive controller 204 configured to download a content withplayback time limit, stored in the content server 104 and record it inthe HDD 205, the instruction receiver 216 configured to receive aninstruction for starting playback of a content, the drive controller 204and video decoder 207 which are configured to play back the contentrecorded in the HDD 205 according to the instruction received by theinstruction receiver 216, and the CPU 212 and graphic controller 208which are configured to output an warning information related toplayback time limit of the content before the drive controller 204 andvideo decoder 207 starts the playback of the content, when theinstruction receiver 216 receives the instruction for starting playbackof the content during download of the content.

In short, when the instruction receiver 216 receives a playback startinstruction for a content during download of the content, the CPU 212and the graphic controller 208 output warning information related to theplayback time limit before the drive controller 204 and the videodecoder 207 plays back the content.

According to the above operation, when a license is to be acquired andplayed back during the download of the content, the user is warned inadvance that the playback time limit may expire before the download ofthe content is completed (see FIG. 19) so that it becomes possible tosuppress occurrence of the drawback.

The warning information related to playback time limit includesselecting means for selecting execution or cancel of playback of thecontent by the user. This allows the user to select execution or cancelof playback of the content in a situation that the warning informationfor the playback time limit is displayed.

When the instruction receiver 216 receives a follow-up playback startinstruction for the content during download of the content, the CPU 212and the graphic controller 208 output warning information for a stop ofplayback caused by a download rate of the content before the content isplayed back by the video decoder 207 (see FIG. 20). Also in this manner,occurrence of a drawback in which playback becomes impossible during thedownload can be suppressed.

When the follow-up playback is executed during download of the content,the following drawback may occur. More specifically, when the follow-upplayback is executed in the case where a download rate of the content islow, the playback of the content may possibly catch up with the downloadof the content. In this case, the playback of the content becomesimpossible and the playback of the content is stopped. In this case, aposition where the playback of the content is stopped may be recorded inthe HDD 205 as a “resume point”. The resume point indicates a startposition of the content when the playback of the content is restarted. Aconcrete operation will be described below.

The CPU 212 monitors whether the playback of the content catches up withthe download of the content. When the playback of the content catches upwith the download of the content and the playback of the content stops,playback time of the stopped content is recognized as a resume point.The CPU 212 instructs the drive controller 204 to record the resumepoint in the HDD 205. The drive controller 204 records the resume pointin the HDD 205.

More specifically, while the content is played back during the downloadof the content, the CPU 212 compares the recording point of the contentwith the playback point of the content. When the recording point and theplayback point are matched, the CPU 212 performs control to record thematching point in the HDD 205 as a resume point.

That is, the recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recorder capable ofrecording in the HDD 205 a content which is downloaded from the contentserver 104 and playing back the content. The recorder 101 includes thedrive controller 204 configured to download a content stored in thecontent server 104 and record it in the HDD 205, the drive controller204 and video decoder 207 which are configured to play back the contentrecorded in the HDD 205, and the CPU 212 configured to perform thecontrol such that in cases where the content is played back during thedownload of the content, when the recording position of the content andthe playback position are matched, the matched position is recorded inthe HDD 205 as a restart position.

An operation of restarting the playback of the content will be describedbelow. When the instruction receiver 216 receives an instruction torestart the playback of the content, the CPU 212 controls the drivecontroller 204 plays back the content which playback is restarted from apoint pointed by the resume point, with reference to the resume pointstored in the HDD 205. The drive controller 204 reads the content fromthe HDD 205 at the point pointed by the resume point.

In short, the recorder 101 of the embodiment further includes theinstruction receiver 216 for receiving the instruction for restartingthe playback of the content. When the recording position of the contentand the playback position are matched, the CPU 212 performs the controlso that the matched position is recorded in a recording medium as arestart position, and the playback of the content is stopped. After thestop of the playback of the content, the CPU 212 performs the control sothat the playback of the content is restarted from the restart positionwhen the instruction receiver 216 receives a playback instruction of thecontent.

In this manner, when the playback of the content is restarted, theplayback is executed from the resume point so that it becomes possibleto view the content from a position where the playback of the content isstopped.

When the playback of the content catches up with the download of thecontent, the playback of the content becomes impossible to stop theplayback of the content. In order to prevent this drawback, it can alsobe determined based on the download rate of the content whetherfollow-up playback is possible.

An operation of determining whether follow-up playback is possible willbe explained by using a flow chart in FIG. 21. Explanation of the sameoperations as those in the flow chart in FIG. 18 will be omitted. Morespecifically, since steps S2101 to S2106 in the flow chart in FIG. 21are the same as steps S1801 to S1806 in the flow chart in FIG. 18, theexplanation of the operations will be omitted.

In step S2106, a warning screen including a warning message indicatingthat playback of a content may possibly become impossible and aselection button which allows a user to select playback of the contentor cancel of the playback in response to the warning is displayed on arecording list screen. When playback is selected by the user on thewarning screen (S2107), the CPU 212 measures a download rate of thecontent of the network controller 215 (S2108) and compares the measureddownload rate with a predetermined threshold value (S2109). When thedownload rate of the content of the network controller 215 is smallerthan the predetermined threshold value, the CPU 212 stops the playbackof the content (S2111). On the other hand, the download rate of thecontent of the network controller 215 is equal to or larger than thepredetermined threshold value, the CPU 212 plays back the content(S2110).

More specifically, when the instruction receiver 216 receives a playbackstart instruction for the content during download of the content, theCPU 212 determines whether the playback of the content which is beingrecorded is prohibited based on the download rate of the networkcontroller 215 before the content is played back by the drive controller204 and the video decoder 207.

In this manner, when the content is played back during the download ofthe content, the possibility that the playback of the content catches upwith the download can be reduced.

The download rate (bit rate) may be obtained by calculating an averageof download rates in a period from a time the download of the contentstarts to a time the download rate is measured. Alternatively, anaverage of download rates in a period from a predetermined time beforethe start of measurement of the download rate to a time the measurementends may be calculate to obtain a download rate.

When the playback of the content catches up with the download of thecontent, the playback of the content may be temporarily stopped, and awarning screen indicating that the playback of the content catches upwith the download of the content may be displayed as shown in FIG. 22.In this case, the user can easily recognize the reason why the playbackof the content is stopped, and thus convenience for the user isimproved.

Whether the follow-up playback is possible may be determined not only bythe download rate of the content but also by information of a file sizeof a downloaded content and a file size of the entire content. Forexample, a time required to download the content can be estimated fromthe download rate and the size of a part of the content which has notbeen downloaded yet. This operation will be explained by using a flowchart in FIG. 23. Explanation of the same operations as those of theflow chart in FIG. 18 will be omitted. More specifically, since stepsS2301 to S2306 in the flow chart in FIG. 23 are the same as steps S1801to S1806 in the flow chart in FIG. 18, the explanation of the operationswill be omitted.

In step S2306, a warning screen including a warning message indicatingthat playback of a content may become impossible and a selection buttonwhich allows a user to select playback of a content or cancel of theplayback is displayed on a recording list screen. When playback isselected by the user on the warning screen (S2307), the CPU 212 measuresa download rate of the content of the network controller 215 (S2308).The CPU 212 estimates a time required to complete the download of thecontent from the file size of a not-downloaded part of the content beingdownloaded and the measured download rate (S2309). The CPU 212 comparesthe estimated time required for the download and a playback time(viewing time) of the content (S2301). When the playback time of thecontent is longer than the estimated time, the playback is permitted(S2311). When the estimated time is longer than the playback time, theplayback is prohibited (S2312).

More specifically, the recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recordercapable of recording in the HDD 205 a content which is downloaded fromthe content server 104 and playing back the content. The recorder 101includes the drive controller 204 configured to download a contentstored in the content server 104 and record it in the HDD 205, theinstruction receiver 216 configured to receive an instruction forstarting playback of a content, the drive controller 204 and videodecoder 207 which are configured to play back the content recorded inthe HDD 205 according to the instruction received by the instructionreceiver 216, and the CPU 212 configured to determine whether playbackof the content is prohibited based on download rate of the drivecontroller 204 and the network controller 215, data amount of recordedportion of the content, and data amount of unrecorded portion of thecontent, before the drive controller 204 and video decoder 207 startsthe playback of the content, when the instruction receiver 216 receivesthe instruction for starting playback of the content during download ofthe content.

According to this configuration, when the follow-up playback isexecuted, it is possible to determine more exactly whether the playbackof the content catches up with the download, and thus the recorder 101can select permission or prohibition of the playback of the content moreappropriately.

Furthermore, more specifically, the CPU 212 compares a viewing time of arecorded part of the content being recorded with a estimated receivingtime calculated from the data amount of the entire content beingrecorded and the download rate. When the estimated receiving time islonger than the viewing time (playback time), the playback of thecontent being recorded is prohibited.

In this manner, when the follow-up playback is executed, it is possibleto determine more exactly whether the playback of the content catches upwith the download, and thus the recorder 101 can select permission orprohibition of the playback of the content more appropriately.

5-2 Operation in Download Request for Plurality of Contents

An operation of downloading of contents when the content server 104 isrequested to download a plurality of contents will be explained by usinga flow chart in FIG. 24.

When a user instructs download of a plurality of contents by using theremote controller 102, the instruction receiver 216 transmits theinstruction to the CPU 212. The CPU 212 instructs the network controller215 to download the plurality of contents at the same time. In thismanner, the network controller 215 downloads the plurality of contentsat the same time (S2401).

When the plurality of contents being downloaded include a content whichis being played back, a priority for download is given to the contentwhich is being played back. A preferential process of the download ofthe content which is being played back will be explained below.

The CPU 212 monitors whether the plurality of contents which are beingdownloaded include a content matched with a content which is beingplayed back in the plurality of contents being downloaded (S2402). Whenthe plurality of contents which are being downloaded do not match withthe content which is being played back, the CPU 212 downloads thecontents without adjusting download rates of the plurality of contents(S2407).

On the other hand, when the plurality of contents which are beingdownloaded include a content matched with the content which is beingplayed back, the CPU 212 controls the network controller 215 to give apriority in download to the content matched with the content which isbeing played back (S2403).

More specifically, the CPU 212 controls the network controller 215 tocause a download rate of the matched content to be higher than that ofthe other contents being downloaded. The CPU 212 may control the networkcontroller 215 to stop the download of the other contents beingdownloaded and download only the matched content.

During the download of the content being played back, the CPU 212determines whether the playback of the content is stopped (S2404).

When the playback is stopped, the content being downloaded is not playedback (S2402), the plurality of contents are downloaded at the same rate(S2407).

On the other hand, when the download continues, the CPU 212 determineswhether the download of the content being played back continues (S2405).When the download of the content being played back is ended, the CPU 212determines whether the download of all the contents is completed(S2406).

When the download of all the contents is not completed, the CPU 212monitors whether the content being downloaded is played back again(S2402). When the download of all the contents is completed, thedownload of the contents is ended.

More specifically, when at least one content of the plurality ofcontents, indicated by an instruction received by the instructionreceiver 216 is being downloaded, and when the instruction receiver 216receives a playback instruction for any one of the plurality ofcontents, the CPU 212 controls the network controller 215 and the drivecontroller 204 such that the content indicated by the playbackinstruction is downloaded in preference to the other contents.

In this manner, the download rate of the content which is beingdownloaded can be increased. Therefore, when the content which is beingdownloaded is simultaneously played back, it is possible to reduce thepossibility that the playback of the content is stopped caused bycatch-up of the playback of the content with the download of thecontent.

The number of contents which can be simultaneously received by thenetwork controller 215 is preferably one. In this case, the possibilitythat playback of the content catches up with download of the content tostop the playback of the content can be more reduced.

5-3 Automatic Stop and Forcible Restart of Download 5-3-1 Automatic Stopof Download

During download of a content, the download of the content can also beautomatically stopped depending on an operation status of the recorder101.

For example, a VOD requires a predetermined network band to display acontent received from a network in real time. Therefore, when a VOD isviewed during download of the content, the CPU 212 instructs the networkcontroller 215 to stop the download of the content when detecting astart of viewing the VOD. The network controller 215 stops the downloadof the content. In this manner, reliability of the viewing of thecontent of the VOD can be improved.

5-3-2 Forcible Restart of Download

A content which is being downloaded can be stopped by user'sinstruction, or the like. In this case, if it is configured that afterthe stop of the download the download is not restarted unless a userinstructs download, a drawback in which the user cannot completedownload of the content may occur although the user purchases thecontent. To prevent this drawback, the recorder 101 according to theembodiment forcibly restarts the download of the content when thedownload of the content is stopped.

An operation of forcibly-restarting download will be explained by usinga flow chart in FIG. 25. During the download, a user instructs a stop ofthe download through the remote controller 102. The CPU 212 whichobtains an instruction from the instruction receiver 216 instructs thenetwork controller 215 to stop the download. In this manner, the networkcontroller 215 stops the download of the content (S2501).

After the stop of the download, the CPU 212 monitors whether aninstruction of restarting the download by the user is received (S2502).When the instruction of restarting the download by the user is received,the CPU 212 restarts the download of the content (S2504). On the otherhand, when the instruction of restarting the download is not received,the CPU 212 determines whether a predetermined time has passed since thestop of the download (S2503). When the predetermined time has passedsince the stop of the download, the download of the content is restarted(S2504).

More specifically, when the instruction receiver 216 receives a stopinstruction of the download of the content, the CPU 212 stops thedownload of the content. Thereafter, when the predetermined time haspassed in the stop state, the CPU 212 controls the network controller215 to restart the download of the content which is stopped. In otherwords, the recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recorder capable ofrecording in the HDD 205 a content which is downloaded from the contentserver 104 and playing back the content. The recorder 101 includes thedrive controller 204 configured to download the content stored in thecontent server 104 and to record the downloaded content in the HDD 205,the drive controller 204 and video decoder 207 which are configured toplay back the content recorded in the HDD 205, the instruction receiver216 configured to receive a stop instruction for stopping the downloadof the content done by the drive controller 204, the CPU 212 configuredto control the drive controller 204. When the instruction receiver 216receives the stop instruction of the download of the content, the CPU212 stops the download of the content. Thereafter, when thepredetermined time has passed in the stop state, the CPU 212 controlsthe drive controller 204 to restart the download of the content. In thiscase, it is more preferable to stop download of all the contents whichare being downloaded and then restart the download of all the contentswhich is stopped.

In this manner, even when the user forgets to restart download after theuser stops the download, the download of the content can be forciblyrestarted. For this reason, the content can be reliably downloaded.

At the restart of the download, a usage state of a communication linemay be checked, a content of which download is to be restarted may beselected depending on the usage state. For example, while playback onthe VOD is performed, it may be prohibited to automatically restart thestopped download. Alternatively, it may be configured to prevent thestopped download from being forcibly restarted when a content differentfrom the content of which download is stopped is being played back. Morespecifically, it may be configured to prevent a content A of whichdownload is stopped from being forcibly restarted, during the follow-upplayback of a content B. In short, while a content different from thecontent of which download is stopped is being played back, the stoppeddownload from being forcibly restarted. Further, during follow-upplayback of a second content different from a first content of whichdownload is stopped, it may be configured to prevent the first contentfrom being forcibly restarted. This is because, a band of acommunication line is preferentially allocated to download of a contentwhich is being played back so as to reduce adverse affect to viewing ofthe content being played back.

5-4 Power-off of Power Supply During Download

When the power supply of the recorder 101 is turned off during downloadof a content, the download of the content can be continued. When a userinstructs the recorder 101 to turn off the power supply through theremote controller 102 during download, the CPU 212 obtains aninstruction from the instruction receiver 216, determines whether thecontent is being downloaded in the network controller 215. When thecontent is being downloaded, the CPU 212 continues the download of thecontent without turning off the power supply. At this time, the CPU 212causes the FL display unit 217 to display that the content is beingdownloaded.

The CPU 212 determines whether the download of the content is ended.When the download of the content is ended, the CPU 212 turns off thepower supply of the recorder 101.

More specifically, when the instruction receiver 216 receives aninstruction of turning off the power supply during the download of thecontent by the network controller 215, the CPU 212 stops the powersupply after the download of the content is completed. In other words,the recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recorder capable of recording inthe HDD 205 a content which is downloaded from the content server 104and playing back the content. The recorder 101 includes the drivecontroller 204 configured to download the content stored in the contentserver 104 to record the downloaded content in the HDD 205, theinstruction receiver 216 configured to receive a power-off instructionfor turning off the power supply of the recorder 1010, and the CPU 212configured to control power supply to the recorder 101 based on theinstruction received by the instruction receiver 216. When theinstruction receiver 216 receives the power-off instruction during thedownload of the content by the drive controller 204, the CPU 212 turnsoff the power supply of the recorder 101 after the download of thecontent is completed, that is, waits until the download of the contentis completed to stop the power supply of the recorder 101.

In this manner, even though the power supply of the recorder 101 isturned off during the download of the content, the download is stoppedafter the download of the content is completed. For this reason, thecontent can be reliably downloaded.

In this case, it can be displayed on the FL display unit 217 that thecontent is being downloaded although the power supply is turned off.

In short, the FL display unit 217 which displays an operation state ofthe recorder 101 is arranged, and the FL display unit 217 displayspredetermined indication until the download is completed after theinstruction receiver 216 receives an instruction of turning off thepower supply during the download of the content. The predeterminedindication is a display indicating that, for example, the content isbeing downloaded. In this manner, the user can recognize the reason whythe power supply is not turned off although the user instructs the powersupply to be turned off.

6. Management of Time Information

In a content distribution system, when a playback time limit of acontent having it is managed, it is important to improve reliability ofa timer to manage the playback time limit. This is because, if the timercan be easily changed by a user, a content provider cannot manage theplayback time limit of the content.

For this reason, the recorder 101 according to the embodiment includesthe secure clock manager 219 in addition to the time manager 218 whichmeasures time for displaying time information on the FL display unit217. The time manager 218 can change the time information by aninstruction input by a user through the instruction receiver 216. Incontrast to this, the secure clock manager 219 can change timeinformation by information other than user's instruction such as timeinformation downloaded from the time server 105. A time updatingoperation in the secure clock manager 219 will be explained below.

The CPU 212 instructs the network controller 215 in a predeterminedcycle (for example, every 10 days) to download the time information fromthe time server 105. The network controller 215 requires the time server105 to transmit time information through the Internet 103. The timeserver 105 transmits the time information to the recorder 101 inresponse to the request. The network controller 215 receives the timeinformation and records the time information in the RAM 213. The CPU 212updates the time information of the secure clock manager 219 based onthe time information recorded in the RAM 213.

More specifically, when the network controller 215 and the drivecontroller 204 download a content with a playback time limit stored inthe content server 104 and record the content in the HDD 205, thenetwork controller 215 and the drive controller 204 download timeinformation from the time server 105 which manages the time to which thenetwork system including the content server 104 and the recorder 101must conform. The CPU 212 manages the playback time limit of the contenthaving it based on the downloaded time information. The instructionreceiver 216 receives a time setting in a method different from a timesetting method performed by the network controller 215 and the drivecontroller 204. The CPU 212 manages time based on the received timesetting, for operations of the recorder 101 other than an operation fora playback expiration.

The network controller 215 and the drive controller 204 download thetime information from the time server 105 in a predetermined cycle.

In this manner, in the secure clock manager 219, the time information isupdated not by an instruction from a user but by the time informationdownloaded from the time server 105. Therefore, the time information isnot illegally changed by a user, and thus the playback time limit of thecontent can be managed without being illegally changed. When therecorder 101 cannot access the time server 105 and cannot obtain correcttime information, accuracy of the time information of the secure clockmanager 219 is not secured and the playback time limit of the contentmay not be correctly kept. Therefore, when the network controller 215cannot access the time server 105 for a predetermined period, therecorder 101 may prohibit the playback of the content.

More specifically, while the network controller 215 does not downloadthe time information used to manage the playback time limit of thecontent, the CPU 212 controls the drive controller 204 and the videodecoder 207 to prohibit the content from being played back. When thetime information cannot be downloaded by the time server 105, a warningthat the time information cannot be downloaded may be output.

More specifically, when the network controller 215 cannot download thetime information from the time server 105, the CPU 212 and the videodecoder 207 output a warning indicating that the network controller 215cannot download the time information.

Thereafter, when the time server 105 can be accessed, the recorder 101may permit playback of the content.

More specifically, the network controller 215 downloads a content with aplayback time limit from the content server 104 and records the contentin the HDD 205. The network controller 215 and the drive controller 204download time information from the time server 105 which manages time towhich the system including the content server 104 and the recorder 101must conform. The CPU 212 manages the playback time limit of the contentwith a playback time limit based on the downloaded time information.When the CPU 212 cannot manage the playback time limit, the networkcontroller 215 and the drive controller 204 newly download the timeinformation from the time server 105.

When the recorder 101 is not connected to the network when the timeinformation is downloaded, the time server 105 cannot be accessed. Whenthe time server 105 cannot be accessed, a warning screen indicating thatthe recorder 101 must be connected to the network may be displayed whenthe instruction receiver 216 receives the playback start instruction ofthe content, as shown in FIG. 26.

That is, a predetermined timing at which it is determined whether therecorder 101 is connected to the Internet 103 is a timing of playback ofthe content in the recorder 101. Hence, in the recorder 101, theaccuracy of the time information of the secure clock manager 219 can bereliably secured upon playback, and it is possible to confirm whetherthe playback time limit of the content can be kept accurately.

More specifically, if a connection between the recorder 101 and thenetwork system including the content server 104 is not confirmed whenthe instruction receiver 216 receives a playback start instruction forthe content, the CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208 output a warningindicating (see FIG. 27) that the recorder 101 must be connected to thenetwork to play back the content by the drive controller 204 and thevideo decoder 207.

In short, the recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recorder capable ofrecording in the HDD 205 a content which is downloaded from the contentserver 104 and playing back the content. The recorder 101 includes thedrive controller 204 configured to record the content downloaded fromthe content server 104 in the HDD 205, the instruction receiver 216configured to receive a playback start instruction for the content, thedrive controller 204 and video decoder 207 which are configured to acontent recorded in the HDD 205 according to the instruction received bythe instruction receiver 216, the CPU 212 and network controller 215which are configured to determine whether the recorder 101 is connectedto the Internet 103 including the content server 104 at a predeterminedtiming, and the CPU212 and graphic controller 208 which are configuredto output a warning that the recorder 101 must be connected to theInternet 103, if the result determined by the CPU212 and networkcontroller 215 indicates that the recorder 101 is not connected to theInternet 103 when the instruction receiver 216 receives the playbackstart instruction for the content.

According to this configuration, the accuracy of the time information ofthe secure clock manager 219 can be secured, and the playback time limitof the content can be kept accurately.

The CPU 212 may confirm in a predetermined cycle (for example, every 10days) the connection between the recorder 101 and the network systemwhen the power supply of the recorder 101 is turned on or a recordinglist is displayed for the first time after the power supply is turnedon. When the connection between the recorder 101 and the network systemis not confirmed when the instruction receiver 216 receives a playbackstart instruction for the content, a warning indicating that therecorder 101 must be connected to the network may be displayed, as shownin FIG. 26. A predetermined timing at which whether the recorder 101 isconnected to the Internet 103 is determined is a timing the power supplyof the recorder 101 is turned on. This configuration allows the recorder101 to confirm the connection at a timing which provides less adverseaffect on the operation of the recorder 101. The CPU 212 may beconfigured not to display the warning before a predetermined time (forexample, 10 days) passes since the last access to the time server 105even though the connection to the network is not confirmed.

In short, when a predetermined period has not passed since theconnection between the recorder 101 and the Internet 103 is confirmedlast, the CPU 212 and graphic controller 208 does not output an warningeven though the result determined by the CPU212 and network controller215 indicates that the recorder 101 is not connected to the Internet103. The drive controller 204 and video decoder 207 start playback ofthe content according to the instruction received by the instructionreceiver 216. According to this configuration, even though the recorder101 is not connected to the Internet 103, the content can be played backif the accuracy of the time information of the secure clock manger 219is secured.

When the power supply of the recorder 101 is turned off, the time server105 may be accessed so that time information is downloaded from the timeserver 105. More specifically, the instruction receiver 216 receives aninstruction of turning off the power supply, the network controller 215downloads the time information from the time server 105. Accessing thetime server 105 at power-off of the recorder 101 allows the access tothe time server 105 to be executed at a timing at which an influence onother operations is minimum.

7. Operation in Erasure of Content 7-1 Basic Operation of ContentErasure

An operation of erasing a content of which playback time limit haspassed will be explained here by using a f low chart in FIG. 27. Atiming at which the CPU 212 starts erasing of a content will bedescribed later.

The CPU 212 instructs the drive controller 204 to record licenseinformation of a content recorded in the HDD 205 in the RAM 213. Thedrive controller 204 records the license information of the contentrecorded in the HDD 205 in the RAM 213. The CPU 212 refers to thelicense information recorded in the RAM 213 to acquire information of aplayback time limit (S2701).

The CPU 212 compares the playback time limit included in the licenseinformation with time information of the secure clock manager 219 todetermine whether there is a content of which playback time limit haspassed (S2702). When there is a content of which playback time limit haspassed, the CPU 212 erases the content (S2703). More specifically, theCPU 212 instructs the drive controller 204 to erase the content of whichplayback time limit has passed. The drive controller 204 erases thecontent recorded in the HDD 205 in response to the instruction.

On the other hand, there is no content of which playback time limit haspassed, the CPU 212 do not erase the content.

Until the playback time limit has passed, the content and metainformation of the content are recorded in the HDD 205. When the contentof which playback time limit has passed is not erased, the content andthe meta information thereof are still recorded in the HDD 205. In thiscase, a recording list is displayed as shown in FIG. 28. In FIG. 28,“Hyper-Beijing Olympic” is a content of which playback time limit haspassed. It is displayed in the content detail display area 300 that theviewing period has expired. In this state, when playback of the contentis selected, since the playback time limit has passed, a warningindicating that the content cannot be played back is displayed, as shownin FIG. 29.

The content is not erased immediately after the playback time limitpassed. This is because it is prevented to make a situation in which theplayback of the content is stopped and the user cannot view the contentalthough the user is still viewing the content when the playback timelimit comes while a user is viewing the content. Details of the reasonwill be described later.

7-2 Operation Performed When Playback Time Limit Passes During Playbackof Content

An operation performed when a playback time limit passes during playbackof a content will be described below. If the content is erased when theplayback time limit comes while a user is playing back the content, theuser cannot continuously view the content.

Therefore, the recorder 101 according to the embodiment permits the userto play back the content of which playback time limit passes as long asthe user does not stop the playback of the content, when the playbacktime limit comes during the playback of the content.

A concrete operation will be explained below by using a flow chart inFIG. 30.

Even though the playback time limit has come during playback of thecontent, the playback of the content is continued (S3001). Thereafter,an end of the playback of the content is determined (S3002). When theplayback is ended, the playback of the content is stopped (S3006).

When the playback of the content continues, the CPU 212 monitors whetheruser's instruction for stopping the content is received (S3003). Whenthe user's instruction for stopping the content is received, the CPU 212temporarily stops the playback of the content, and displays a warningscreen including a warning message indicating “The playback time limithas passed. Therefore, once the playback is stopped, the content cannotbe played back any more” and a selection button to selectexecution/cancel of the playback stop (S3004). FIG. 31 shows an exampleof the warning screen. A still image of the content being played backmay be displayed on a background of the warning screen.

The user selects whether the playback of a content is stopped on thewarning screen (S3005). When the user instructs the playback of thecontent to be stopped, the playback of the content is stopped (S3006).On the other hand, when the instruction for stopping the playback of thecontent is canceled, playback of the content is continued (S3001).

More specifically, when the playback time limit of the content passesafter the instruction receiver 216 receives the instruction of startingof the playback, the CPU 212 and the video decoder 207 continue theplayback of the content even after the playback time limit passes.However, when the playback of the content is stopped after the playbacktime limit passes, the CPU 212 and the video decoder 207 performs thecontrol not to play back the content even though the instructionreceiver 216 receives the instruction of starting the playback. For thisreason, when the instruction receiver 216 receives an instruction forstopping the playback of the content after the instruction receiver 216receives the instruction of starting the playback and after the playbacktime limit passes, the CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208 display awarning screen indicating that the content cannot be played back againonce the playback of the content is stopped.

The display of the warning screen as described above can inform the userof the possibility that the content cannot be played back due toexpiration of the playback time limit. Thus unpredictable circumstancesfor the user can be avoided and convenience can be improved.

It is noted that a still picture of the content may be displayed at theoutput of the warning information.

After the warning screen is output by the CPU 212 and the graphiccontroller 208, when the instruction receiver 216 receives aninstruction of stopping playback of the content, the drive controller204 and the video decoder 207 stops the playback of the content. In thismanner, even though the playback time limit has passed, the user canstop the playback of the content.

When the instruction receiver 216 does not receive a playbackinstruction for a predetermined time in a condition that the stop of thecontent is instructed and the warning information is output, a playbackinstruction may not be executed even though the instruction receiver 216receives the playback instruction. More specifically, in cases where awarning information is output when the instruction receiver receives aninstruction for stopping the playback of the content after the playbacktime limit passes during playback of the content having the playbacktime limit, the drive controller 204 and video decoder 207 do notexecute the playback of the content even though the instruction receiver216 receives the playback instruction of the content, when apredetermined time passes after the instruction for stopping isreceived.

Hence, even though the warning is output, the playback is prohibitedwhen the predetermined time passes.

When the playback of the content is stopped, the content may be erased.In this case, on the warning screen indicating that the content cannotbe played back again once the playback of the content is stopped, it maybe also warned that the content is erased when the playback of thecontent is stopped.

A pause state may be regarded as a playback state so that the playbackof the content may be allowed. In this case, it is configured that, whenplay back of the content in pause is instructed, the content is playedback normally.

7-3 Forcible Ending of Playback of Content After Playback Time Limit HasPassed

Only under the control of the flow chart shown in FIG. 30, even though aplayback time limit has come during playback of a content, the contentcan be semipermanently played back unless the playback of the content isstopped. More specifically, it is possible to continue to play back thecontent regardless of the playback time limit by bringing the content toa pause with an instruction from a user and canceling the pause.However, if such semipermanent playback is permitted, playback timelimits of contents cannot be managed. Therefore, the recorder 101according to the embodiment further includes a function of forciblyending playback of a content and a function of preventing a content frombeing newly played back when a predetermined time (for example, 4 hours)passes from the playback time limit.

An operation of forcibly ending playback of a content after the playbacktime limit elapses will be explained below by using a flow chart in FIG.32.

When playback of a content is continued after the playback time limit ofthe content elapses (S3201), the CPU 212 determines whether the playbacktime limit of the content being played back has passed (S3202). Thisdetermination is performed by comparing information related to aplayback time limit of license information with time information of thesecure clock manager 219, in a predetermined cycle. When there is acontent of which playback time limit has passed for a predetermined time(for example, 4 hours) or more, the CPU 212 causes the drive controller204 to stop the playback of the content (S3203). Even though the CPU 212receives an instruction for playback of the content from a user, the CPU212 does not newly execute playback of the content. On the other hand,when the predetermined time or more has not elapsed from the playbacktime limit of the content being played back, the CPU 212 does notprohibit the content from being played back.

When the playback of the content is stopped because the predeterminedtime has elapsed from the playback time limit, a warning screen as shownin FIG. 33 is displayed. When the playback of the content is stopped,the content may be erased.

More specifically, the drive controller 204 and the video decoder 207continue the playback of the content, even after the instructionreceiver 216 receives an instruction for starting the playback and afterthe playback time limit of the content with a playback time limitpasses. On the other hand, even though the playback is continued, whenthe predetermined time elapses after the playback time limit, theplayback of the content is stopped.

In this manner, even though the content of which playback time limit haspassed is permitted to be played back, the content can be prevented frombeing semipermanently played back. Therefore, the content being playedback can be prevented from being erased, and a playback time limit canbe given to the content.

In the above operation, when the playback of the content is stopped, awaning indicating the playback time limit has passed may be displayed.

More specifically, when the drive controller 204 and the video decoder207 stop the playback of the content after a predetermined time elapses,the CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208 output warning informationrelated to the playback time limit of the content.

In the embodiment, the predetermined time which is an overtime limit isnot limited to 4 hours, but may be arbitrarily set.

7-4 Warning Before Content Playback Time Limit Passes

A warning operation related to a playback time limit before a playbacktime limit of a content passes will be explained. As explained inSection 7-2 “Operation performed when playback time limit passes duringplayback of content”, when a content is played back around the playbacktime limit of the content, the playback time limit of the content mayhave passed during the playback of the content. When the playback timelimit of the content being played back passes, if a user erroneouslyinstructs stop of the playback, the user cannot play back the contentthereafter. Therefore, when a content is played back around the playbacktime limit of the content, a warning screen indicating that whenplayback of the content is stopped, the content can not possibly beplayed back is displayed, so that the possibility that the usererroneously instructs the playback to be stopped can be reduced.

FIG. 35 shows an example of such a warning screen. A playback time limitof a content to be played back is 12:34 on Feb. 19, 2008, and arecording time is 2 hours and 7 minutes. Therefore, when the playback isstarted after 10:27 on Feb. 19, 2008, the warning screen must bedisplayed.

The recorder 101 according to the embodiment displays a warning screenbefore a content is played back when a playback time limit possiblycomes during the playback of the content. By this configuration, thepossibility that the user erroneously instructs the stop of the playbackis reduced. In the example described above, when the content is playedback after 10:27 on Feb. 19, 2008, the warning screen is displayed.

This operation will be concretely explained below by using a flow chartin FIG. 34. When receiving from the instruction receiver 216 aninstruction for playback of a content (S3401), the CPU 212 instructs thedrive controller 204 to record, in the RAM 213, license information andmeta information of a content which is recorded in the HDD 205 and isabout to be played back. In response to this instruction, the drivecontroller 204 records the license information and the meta informationof the content recorded in the HDD 205, in the RAM 213. A playback timelimit of the content is described in the license information, and theplayback time limit and a playback time of the content are described inthe meta information. For this reason, the CPU 212 acquires the playbacktime limit and the playback time of the content (S3402). The CPU 212determines whether the warning screen is required to be displayed basedon the playback time limit included in the meta information, theinformation of the playback time of the content, and the timeinformation of the secure clock manager 219 (S3403). More specifically,when a remaining time until the playback time limit is shorter than theplayback time of the content, the CPU 212 instructs the graphiccontroller 208 to display a warning screen related to the playback timelimit. In response to this instruction, the graphic controller 208acquires image data of a warning screen related to a viewing time limitfrom the memory 209, superposes the image data on a recording listimage, and displays the recording list image on the digital television100 through the video output unit 210 (S3404).

FIG. 35 is an example of the warning screen related to the viewing timelimit displayed on the digital television 100. When a user presses theset button on the remote controller 102 when the warning screen isdisplayed, playback of the content is started.

More specifically, when receiving an instruction of playback a contentwith a playback time limit recorded in the HDD 205, the CPU 212 detectsa playback time which is a time required to complete the playback of thecontent. The CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208 output warninginformation related to the playback time limit based on the playbacktime limit of the content and the playback time detected by the CPU 212for the content.

In this manner, since the warning screen is displayed on the digitaltelevision 100 before a content of which playback time limit passesduring playback is played back, the possibility that a user erroneouslyinstructs the stop of the playback can be reduced.

The CPU 212 detects whether the playback of the content in the HDD 205is completed. When the playback is not completed, the CPU 212 may outputa warning. More specifically, with respect to a content of whichplayback time limit comes within a predetermined period in the contentsrecorded in the HDD 205, the CPU 212 detects whether the drivecontroller 204 and the video decoder 207 complete the playback of thecontent. When the playback of the content is not completed, the CPU 212and the graphic controller 208 output warning information related to theplayback time limit.

More specifically, the recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recordercapable of recording and playing back a content which is downloaded fromthe content server 104. The recorder 101 includes the HDD 205 configuredto store a content having playback time limit, downloaded from thecontent server 104, the instruction receiver 216 configured to receivean instruction for starting playback of a content, the drive controller204 and video decoder 207 which are configured to play back the contentstored in the HDD 205 according to the instruction received by theinstruction receiver 216, the CPU 212 configured to detect whetherplayback of a specific content is completed by the drive controller 204and video decoder 207, the specific content being stored in the HDD 205and having a playback time limit which comes within a predeterminedperiod after the instruction receiver receives the instruction, and theCPU 212 and graphic controller 208 configured to output a warninginformation related to the playback time limit based on the detectionresult of the CPU 212.

In this manner, the warning screen is displayed on the digitaltelevision 100 before a playback time limit of a content which is notcompletely viewed by a user comes. Therefore, regarding the contentwhich is not completely viewed, the possibility that the playback timelimit comes in a condition that the content is not completely viewed canbe reduced.

The CPU 212 and graphic controller 208 display the warning informationwhen the remaining time before the playback time limit with respect to atime the instruction receiver 216 receives an instruction is smallerthan the playback time of the content. In this manner, since a warninginformation is displayed when the remaining time before the playbacktime limit is smaller than the playback time of the content, thepossibility that the playback time limit for the content which is notcompletely viewed comes in a condition that the content is notcompletely viewed can be reduced.

The warning information to be displayed may include means forinstructing the drive controller 204 and video decoder 207 to play backthe content, as shown in FIG. 35. By this configuration, the user caneasily restart the playback of the content.

After a predetermined period elapses after the warning screen isdisplayed, playback of a content may be automatically started. Thisconfiguration allows the content to be automatically played back eventhough the user forgets to start the playback of the content with thewarning screen being displayed.

The warning screen may be superposed on a recording list and displayedas shown in FIG. 35. That is, the warning screen is displayed on thedigital television 100, and at the background of the warning informationthe image indicating the list of contents stored in the HDD 205 isdisplayed. The warning screen may be superposed on a playback screen ofa content. At this time, the content may be displayed at the backgroundof the warning information. That is, the warning screen is displayed onthe digital television 100, and the content is displayed at thebackground of the warning information. Further, the warning screen maybe displayed in pause at the first frame after the playback of thecontent starts. Then, after a predetermined time elapses, the display ofthe warning screen may be stopped and the playback of the content may bestarted.

That is, the warning information is displayed in pause at the firstframe of the content to be displayed at the background of the warninginformation, and then after a predetermined time elapses, the display ofthe warning screen is stopped and the pause of the content is cancelled.

The content may be erased when the content is stopped. Morespecifically, regarding a content with a playback time limit among thecontents recorded in the HDD 205, the drive controller 204 and the videodecoder 207 cannot play back the content at a predetermined timing andafter the playback time limit passes. The CPU 212 erases the content ata timing the drive controller 204 and video decoder 207 becomes unableto play back the content.

At a background of the warning screen, the recording list may bedisplayed or the content may be played back.

In the embodiment, the timing at which the warning screen is displayedis set as a timing at which “the remaining time before playback timelimit <the playback time”. However, this is not strictly applied, andthe warning screen may be output slightly early or belatedly within arange which the effect of the present invention can be expected.

The embodiment shows the example in which, when the playback time limitcomes during the playback of the content, the warning screen isdisplayed in advance. However, not only when the playback time limitcomes during the playback of the content, but also when the playbacktime limit comes within a predetermined time after a playback startinstruction is received, the warning screen may be similarly displayed.

7-5 Erasing of Content After Playback Time Limit Passes

An operation of erasing a content of which playback time limit haspassed will be explained. Any one of the following three timings can beset to a timing at which the content is erased:

1) A timing in a sequence of power-off of the recorder 101;

2) A timing of displaying a recording list (i.e., timing of creating arecording list); and

3) A timing based on a relation between a playback time limit and aplayback timing, regardless of an operation state of the recorder 101.

Erasing operations at the three timings will be concretely explainedbelow.

7-5-1 Erasing in Sequence of Power-off

A case in which a content is erased in a sequence of power-off will beexplained by using a flow chart in FIG. 36.

The CPU 212 determines whether a user instructs the recorder 101 to beturned off through the remote controller 102 (S3601). When the userinstructs the recorder 101 to be turned off, the CPU 212 instructs thedrive controller 204 to read license information of a content recordedin the HDD 205. In response to the instruction, the drive controller 204reads the license information of the content recorded in the HDD 205 andrecords the license information in the RAM 213 (S3602).

The CPU 212 interprets information related to a playback time limit ofthe license information recorded in the RAM 213 to determine whetherthere is a content of which playback time limit has passed among thecontents recorded in the HDD 205 (S3603). When the content of whichplayback time limit has passed is present, the CPU 212 instructs thedrive controller 204 to erase the content. The drive controller 204erases the content from the HDD 205 (S3604).

On the other hand, when there is no content of which playback time limithas passed, the CPU 212 does not execute the instruction for erasing thecontent. Thereafter, the recorder 101 performs a predetermined operationfor power-off and then the recorder 101 is turned off (S3605).

As described above, after the user instructs the recorder 101 to beturned off, determination of a content to be erased and erasing of thecontent are executed.

More specifically, regarding a content with the playback time limitamong the contents recorded in the HDD 205, the CPU 212 erases thecontent when the instruction receiver 216 receives an instruction forpower-off.

In other words, the recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recorder capableof recording and playing back a content which is downloaded from thecontent server 104. The recorder 101 includes the HDD 205 or disk 206configured to store a content having playback time limit, downloadedfrom the content server 104, the instruction receiver 216 configured toreceive an instruction for power-on/off of the recorder 101, and the CPU212 and the drive controller 204 which are configured to erase a contentfrom the HDD 205 or disk 206. The CPU 212 and the drive controller 204erase a content of which playback time limit has passed from the HDD 205or disk 206 when the instruction receiver 216 receives the instructionfor power-on/off of the recorder 101.

In this manner, determination of a content to be erased and erasing ofthe content can be performed in parallel with other operation such as aplayback of a content, so that it is possible to prevent application ofa large processing load to the CPU 212 and therefore the recorder 101can be stably operated.

When the recorder 101 is turned on after the content is erased, therecorder 101 may display a warning screen indicating that the contenthas been erased at the next start of the recorder 101. Morespecifically, the recorder 101 may operate as follows.

When the instruction receiver 216 receives an instruction for power-onof the recorder 101, the CPU 212 instructs the graphic controller 208 todisplay a warning screen indicating the content has been erased. Thegraphic controller 208 reads image data recorded in the memory 209 andused for displaying that the content has been erased, and outputs theimage data to the digital television 100 through the video output unit210.

That is, when the content is erased from the HDD 205, the informationrelated to the erased content is recorded as erasure information in theHDD 205. When the instruction receiver 216 receives the instruction forpower-on, the video output unit 210 reads the erasure information fromthe HDD 205 and outputs it.

When the recording list is displayed, the erasure information may bedisplayed. More specifically, when the content is erased from the HDD205, the CPU 212 stores information related to the erased content in theHDD 205 as erasure information. When the instruction receiver 216receives an instruction for power-on, the CPU 212 reads the erasureinformation from the HDD 205 and displays the erasure informationtogether with the recording list. In other words, the recorder 101includes the CPU 212 and graphic controller 208 configured to createlist image data displaying a list of content information related to eachof all or part of contents stored in the HDD 205. The CPU 212 andgraphic controller 208 outputs the erasure information when creating thelist image data. In this manner, a user can know that the content hasbeen erased because the playback time limit of the content has passed.

An upper limit of the number of contents which can be erased at once maybe set. In this manner, a time required to erase a large number ofcontents can be reduced, and a timing at which the recorder 101 isturned off can be prevented from being delayed. In contents of whichplayback time limits have passed, a predetermined number (upper limit)of contents are preferably erased in a chronological order of viewingtime limit or a descending order of content size.

The CPU 212 and drive controller 204 may monitor the playback time limitof the content periodically and erase the content of which playback timelimit has come. This configuration allows the playback time limit to bemanaged at appropriate timing regardless of the operation of therecorder 101 such as power-on/off.

7-5-2 Erasing at Display of Recording List

A case in which a content is erased in a display (creation) of arecording list will be explained by using a flow chart in FIG. 37. TheCPU 212 determines whether a user instructs to display a recording listthrough the remote controller 102 (S3701). When the user instructs todisplay the recording list, the CPU 212 instructs the drive controller204 to read information of a content recorded in the HDD 205. The drivecontroller 204 reads license information of the content recorded in theHDD 205 and records the license information in the RAM 213 (S3702).

The CPU 212 interprets information related to a playback time limit ofthe license information recorded in the RAM 213 to determine whetherthere is a content of which playback time limit has passed among thecontents recorded in the HDD 205 (S3703). When there is the content ofwhich playback time limit has passed, the CPU 212 instructs the drivecontroller 204 to erase the content. The drive controller 204 erases thecontent from the HDD 205 (S3704). Thereafter, a recording list iscreated and displayed (S3705).

More specifically, with respect to a content with a playback time limitin the contents recorded in the HDD 205, the CPU 212 and the graphiccontroller 208 erases the content when the recording list image data iscreated.

In other words, the recorder 101 of the embodiment is a recorder capableof recording and playing back a content which is downloaded from thecontent server 104. The recorder 101 includes the HDD 205 configured tostore a content having playback time limit, downloaded from the contentserver 104, the CPU 212 and graphic controller 208 configured to createlist image data displaying a list of content information related to eachof all or part of contents stored in the HDD 205, and the CPU 212 anddrive controller 204 which are configured to erase a content from theHDD 205. The CPU 212 and drive controller 204 erases the content ofwhich playback time limit has passed from the HDD 205 when the CPU 212and graphic controller 208 creates the list image data.

With the above operation, when a user creates the recording list, theplayback time limit of the content is determined. For this reason, thedisplayed recording list is a list reflecting always the latest playbacktime limit. Therefore, a user can be prevented from selecting a contentof which playback time limit has passed, and convenience for the user isimproved.

An upper limit of the number of contents which can be erased at once maybe set. With this arrangement, it is possible to delay a timing at whichrecording list data is output from the recorder 101, which is caused byerasing a large number of contents. That is, the CPU 212 and drivecontroller 204 have upper limit of the number of contents which can beerased at once. At this time, a predetermined number (upper limit) ofcontents may be selectively erased in a chronological order of viewingtime limit or a descending order of content size. In short, the CPU 212and drive controller 204 select a predetermined number (upper limit) ofcontents from contents of which playback time limits have passed in achronological order of viewing time limit, and erase the selectedcontents. Alternatively, the CPU 212 and drive controller 204 select apredetermined number (upper limit) of contents from contents of whichplayback time limits have passed in a descending order of content size,and erase the selected contents.

When the recorder 101 is turned on after the erasure of the content, therecorder 101 may display a warning screen indicating that the contenthas been erased, upon the next power-on of the recorder 101. Morespecifically, the recorder 101 operates as follows.

When the instruction receiver 216 receives an instruction for power-onof the recorder 101, the CPU 212 instructs the graphic controller 208 todisplay a warning screen indicating that the content has been erased.The graphic controller 208 reads image data recorded in the memory 209for displaying that the content has been erased and outputs it to thedigital television 100 through the video output unit 210.

That is, the recorder 101 includes the instruction receiver 216configured to receive an instruction for power-on of the recorder 101,and the CPU 212 and video output unit 210 configured to, when thecontent is erased from the HDD 205, record information related to theerased content as erasure information in the HDD 205, read the erasureinformation from the HDD 205 and output the read erasure informationwhen the instruction receiver receives the instruction for power-on.

With this arrangement, even though the content recorded in the HDD 205is erased, information regarding the erasure is presented upon power-onof the recorder 101. Thus the user can know the content which has beenautomatically erased.

The erasure information may be presented not only upon power-on but alsoupon creation of the list data by the CPU 212 and graphic controller208.

7-5-3 Erasing Based on Time Relation to Playback Time Limit

Erasing of a content based on a time relation between a playback timelimit and a playback timing will be explained by using a flow chart inFIG. 38.

The CPU 212 records license information recorded in the HDD 205 in apredetermined cycle in the RAM 213 (S3801, S3802).

The CPU 212 interprets information related to a playback time limit ofthe license information recorded in the RAM 213 to determine whetherthere is a content of which playback time limit has passed in thecontents recorded in the HDD 205 (S3803). When there is the content ofwhich playback time limit has passed, the CPU 212 instructs the drivecontroller 204 to erase the content. The drive controller 204 erases thecontent from the HDD 205 (S3804).

More specifically, the CPU 212 erases the content with the playback timelimit in the contents recorded in the HDD 205 within a predeterminedtime after the playback time limit has passed.

In other words, the recorder 101 includes the instruction receiver 216configured to receive an instruction for power-on of the recorder 101,and the CPU 212 and video output unit 210 configured to, when thecontent is erased from the HDD 205, record information related to theerased content as erasure information in the HDD 205, read the erasureinformation from the HDD 205 and output the read erasure informationwhen the instruction receiver receives the instruction for power-on.

With the above operation, a delay of a timing at which a content ofwhich playback time limit has passed is erased can be further shortened.

An upper limit of the number of contents which are erased at once may beset. For example, the upper limit of the number of contents which can beerased at once can be set to 64. A predetermined number (upper limit) ofcontents may be erased in a chronological order of viewing time limit ora descending order of content sizes.

8. Copying of Content 8-1 Limit of Number of Times of Copy of Content

Copy control of a content when the number of times of copying a contentis limited will be explained. An operation performed when a content iscopied from the HDD 205 to the disk 206 will be explained below.

When the instruction receiver 216 receives a copying instruction from auser, the CPU 212 performs control to acquire license information of acontent to be copied and to record the acquired license information inthe RAM 213. When the license information of the content has not beenreceived yet, the license information is downloaded through the networkcontroller 215. The license information includes a decoding key todecode a content to be copied.

In the meta information of the content, as copy limiting information,number of allowable copy of the content is recorded (see FIG. 1B). Whenthe number of allowable copy described in the meta information is 1 ormore, the CPU 212 permits the content to be copied, and copies thecontent in the HDD 205 to the disk 206. The CPU 212 reduces the numberof allowable copy described in the meta information by 1 and records themeta information in the HDD 205 through the drive controller 204.

On the other hand, when the number of allowable copy described in themeta information is 0, the CPU 212 prohibits the content to be copied,and does not execute copying of the content from the HDD 205 to the disk206.

More specifically, the network controller 215 downloads a content storedin the content server 104 and records the content in the HDD 205. Thedrive controller 204 can copy the content recorded in the HDD 205 to thedisk 206. Before the drive controller 204 executes copying, the networkcontroller 215 acquires copy limiting information (for example, thenumber of allowable copy) of a content to be copied, and determineswhether copying is permitted based on the acquired copy limitinginformation.

The number of times of copy of the content may be recorded in the HDD205. The copy limiting information may include the number of allowablecopies of a content to be copied. When the number of allowable copies isequal to or smaller than the number of times of copy of the contentrecorded in the HDD 205, it may be determined that the content cannot becopied.

With the above operation, the number of times of copy can be limited toa downloaded content. Therefore, the number of times of copy of adownloaded content can be limited on a content distribution system side.

The number of times of copy may be managed by counting it up. In thiscase, the CPU 212 counts up the number of times of copy (initial value:0) one by one every copying process and records the counted-up number oftimes of copy in the HDD 205 or the like. The CPU 212 compares thecounted-up number of times of copy with the number of allowable copydescribed in the meta information. The CPU 212 may determine that thecontent cannot be copied when the counted-up number of times of copy isequal to or larger than the number of allowable copy.

8-2 Limit of Copying Period of Content

Copying control of a content performed when a copying period of acontent is limited will be explained. An operation performed when acontent is copied from the HDD 205 to the disk 206 will be explainedbelow.

When the instruction receiver 216 receives a copying instruction from auser, the CPU 212 performs control to acquire license information of acontent to be copied and to record the acquired license information inthe RAM 213. When the license information of the content is notreceived, the license information is downloaded through the networkcontroller 215. The license information includes a decoding key todecode a content to be copied.

In meta information of a content, as copy limiting information, a copyexpiration time of the content is recorded (see FIG. 1B). The CPU 212compares the copy expiration time of the content recorded in the metainformation with time information (present date and time) of the secureclock manager 219. When the present date and time is before the copyexpiration time recorded in the meta information, the CPU 212 permitsthe content to be copied and records the content in the HDD 205 to thedisk 206.

On the other hand, when the present date and time are after the copyexpiration time described in the license information, the CPU 212prohibits the content from being copied, and does not execute copying ofthe content from the HDD 205 to the disk 206.

More specifically, the copy limiting information includes a copyexpiration time of a content to be copied. When determining that thecopy expiration time has passed, the CPU 212 decides that the copy isimpossible.

With the above operation, a copy expiration time of a downloaded contentcan be limited for a downloaded content. Therefore, the copy expirationtime of the downloaded content can be limited on a content distributionsystem side.

Even though a copy expiration time passes during copying, the copyingmay be continued. That is, the drive controller 204 starts copying ofthe content, and thereafter continues the copying even though the copyexpiration time passes during the copying of the content.

With this arrange, even though a copy expiration time has passes duringcopying, it is possible to prevent the copying from being interrupted onthe way.

In the above embodiment, as warning means, a warning screen whichinforms of a warning with texts is used. However, the warning means isnot limited to this, and another means such as an audio means or a lampmay be used.

9. Correspondence of Terms

The drive controller 204 is an example of a recording unit. The networkcontroller 215 and the drive controller 204 are an example of adownloading unit. The HDD 205 is an example of a recording medium. Thedrive controller 204 and the video decoder 207 are an example of aplayback unit. The instruction receiver 216 is an example of aninstruction receiver. The CPU 212 and the graphic controller 208 are anexample of a warning unit. The CPU 212 is an example of a controller.The CPU 212 is an example of a controller. The drive controller 204 andthe CPU 212 are an example of a display data creating unit. The CPU 11is an example of a completion detector. The drive controller 204 and theCPU 212 are an example of an erasing unit. The drive controller 208 andthe CPU 212 are an example of a copying unit. The FL display unit 217 isan example of a state display unit. The tuner 201, the ADC 202, thevideo encoder 203, and the drive controller 204 are an example of abroadcast recording unit. The instruction receiver 216 is an example ofa request receiver. The video output unit 210 is an example of erasureinformation output unit. The CPU 212 and the network controller 215 arean example of connection checking unit. The CPU 212 is an example ofediting unit. The CPU 212 is an example of an erasure-prohibitioncanceling unit. The digital television is an example of a display unit.

The disclosure generally concerns a recording and playback apparatuscomprising: a controller; an interface portion receiving metainformation including the time-limit for a content, then the contenthaving the time-limit for playback and user commands; and a recordingmedium (205, 206, 213) storing the content and instructions forconfiguring the controller. The controller can be, for example, the CPU212. The interface portion can be, for example, the network controller215 and the instruction receiver 216. The recording medium can be, forexample, the HDD 205, disc 206, flash memory 211 and/or RAM 213. Theinstructions configure the controller to generate video and/or audiosignals to be output based on the content in response to a user commandincluding a request to start the output; determine if the time-limit forplayback of the content will expire during the output of the videoand/or audio signals; generate warning information related to the timelimit if it determines the time limit will expire when a user commandincluding a request to stop output is received during output of thevideo and/or audio signals; continue the output when a user commandincluding a request to cancel the request to stop is received inresponse to the warning information; and if a user command including aconfirmation of the request to cancel the request to stop is received,prohibiting the output thereafter even if another user command includinga request to start the output is received. The controller is furtherconfigured to determine if the time-limit for playback of the content islikely to expire during the output of the video and/or audio signals inaccordance with the time-limit from the metal information.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A recording and playback apparatus according to the present embodimentcan be applied to an apparatus such as a digital television or a digitalrecorder which can record a broadcast program or the like. Theembodiment is explained with reference to the specific embodiment.However, many other changes and modifications and other applications areapparent to a person skilled in the art. Therefore, the presentinvention is not limited to the specific disclosure mentioned here, andthe present invention is limited only by the appended claims. Thisapplication is related to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No.2008-213779 (filed on Aug. 22, 2008), and the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

1. A recording and playback apparatus capable of recording and playingback a content downloaded from a server, comprising: a recording mediumcapable of storing a content with a playback time limit; an instructionreceiver configured to receive a playback instruction to start playbackof the content or a stop instruction to stop the playback of thecontent; a playback unit configured to play back the content recorded inthe recording medium in accordance with the instruction received by theinstruction receiver; and a warning output unit configured to outputwarning information related to the playback time limit of the contentwith the playback time limit recorded in the recording medium, whereinthe playback unit continues the playback of the content, even after theplayback time limit expires during the playback of the content with theplayback time limit, and, when the playback of the content is stoppedafter the playback time limit of the content expires during the playbackof the content, does not play back the content if the instructionreceiver receives the playback instruction, and the warning output unitoutputs the warning information, when the instruction receiver receivesthe stop instruction after the playback time limit of the contentexpires during the playback of the content with the playback time limit.2. The recording and playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein astill image of the content is output while the warning information isoutput.
 3. The recording and playback apparatus according to claim 1,wherein in cases where the warning information is output when theinstruction receiver receives the stop instruction of the playback ofthe content after the playback time limit of the content with theplayback time limit expires during the playback of the content, theplayback unit does not execute the playback of the content after apredetermined time elapses after the stop instruction is received, eventhough the instruction receiver receives the playback instruction of thecontent.
 4. The recording and playback apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the playback unit stops the playback of the content, when theinstruction receiver receives the stop instruction of the playback ofthe content after the warning information is output by the warningoutput unit.
 5. The recording and playback apparatus according to claim4, wherein when the playback of the content is stopped, the stoppedcontent is erased.
 6. The recording and playback apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein after the playback time limit of the content with theplayback time limit expires during the playback of the content, thewarning information output when the instruction receiver receives thestop instruction of the content includes a message indicating that thecontent is being erased if the content is stopped.
 7. A recording andplayback apparatus comprising: a controller; an interface portionreceiving content having a time-limit for playback and user commands;and a recording medium storing the content and instructions forconfiguring the controller to: generate video and/or audio signals to beoutput based on the content in response to a user command including arequest to start the output; determine if the time-limit for playback ofthe content will expire during the output of the video and/or audiosignals; generate warning information related to the time limit if itdetermines the time limit will expire when a user command including arequest to stop output is received during output of the video and/oraudio signals; continue the output when a user command including arequest to cancel the request to stop is received in response to thewarning information; and if a user command including a confirmation ofthe request to cancel the request to stop is received, prohibiting theoutput thereafter even if another user command including a request tostart the output is received.
 8. The recording and playback apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein the interface further receives meta informationincluding the time-limit for the content prior to receiving the content.9. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 8, wherein thecontroller determines if the time-limit for playback of the content islikely to expire during the output of the video and/or audio signals inaccordance with the time-limit from the metal information.